Labour Party

RULE BOOK
2018
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Constitutional rules 1 Clause XII. Disciplinary 40
Clause I. Name and objects 1 Clause XIII. Parliamentary candidates 40
Clause II. Party structure and affiliated organisations 1 Clause XIV. Local government candidates 40
Clause III. The Party’s financial scheme 2 Clause XV. Amendment to rules 40
Clause IV. Aims and values 3 Chapter 8 Rules for branches 41
Clause V. Party programme 3 Clause I. Name 41
Clause VI. Labour Party Conference 4 Clause II. Objects 41
Clause VII. Party officers and statutory officers 4 Clause III. Membership 41
Clause VIII. The National Executive Committee 5 Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee 41
Clause IX. The National Constitutional Committee 8 Clause V. Meetings 41
Clause X. Scope of rules 8 Clause VI. Local government candidates 42
Chapter 2 Membership rules 10 Clause VII. Miscellaneous 42
Clause I. Conditions of membership 10 Chapter 9 Rules for Regional Boards and European
Clause II. Membership procedures 11 Party units 43
Clause III. Membership subscriptions 12 Chapter 10 Rules for women’s forums 44
Chapter 3 Party Conference 14 Clause I. Name 44
Clause I. Delegations 14 Clause II. Aims and values 44
Clause II. Conference Arrangements Committee 15 Clause III. Membership 44
Clause III. Procedural rules for Party Conference 15 Clause IV. Management 44
Clause IV. National Annual Women’s Conference 17 Clause V. Meetings 44
Chapter 4 Elections of national officers of the Party Clause VI. Activities 45
and national committees 18 Clause VII. Finances 45
Clause I. General principles 18 Clause VIII. General 45
Clause II. Procedural rules for elections for national Clause IX. Alteration to rules 46
officers of the Party 18 Chapter 11 Rules for Young Labour 47
Clause III. Procedural rules for elections for national Clause I. Name 47
committees 20
Clause II. Establishment 47
Chapter 5 Selections, rights and responsibilities of Clause III. Aims and values 47
candidates for elected public office 25
Clause IV. Membership 47
Clause I. General rules for selections for public office25
Clause V. Structure 47
Clause II. Rights and responsibilities of elected
Clause VI. Regional Committees 47
members 26
Chapter 11 (A) Young Labour groups 48
Clause III. Selection of local government candidates 27
Clause I. Name 48
Clause IV. Selection of Westminster parliamentary
candidates 27 Clause II. Aims and values 48
Clause V. Selection of European parliamentary Clause III. Membership 48
candidates 29 Clause IV. Establishing a group 48
Clause VI. Selection of Candidates for devolved Clause V. Geographical boundaries 48
institutions 30 Clause VI. Meetings 48
Chapter 6 Disciplinary rules 31 Clause VII. Officers 49
Clause I. National action by the Party 31 Clause VIII. Finance 49
Clause II. Action by CLPs 32 Clause IX. Relationship with constituency parties 49
Chapter 7 Rules for CLPs 35 Clause X. General relations 49
Clause I. Name 35 Clause XI. Dissolution 49
Clause II. Aims and values 35 Chapter 11 (B) Young Labour National Committee 50
Clause III. Affiliated organisations 35 Clause I. Aims and values 50
Clause IV. Affiliation fees 35 Clause II. Membership 50
Clause V. Individual membership 36 Clause III. Chair 50
Clause VI. Method of organisation 36 Clause IV. Executive 50
Clause VII. Management 37 Clause V. National Policy Forum Representatives 51
Clause VIII. Officers 38 Clause VI. Meetings 51
Clause IX. The General Meeting 39 Clause VII. Finance 51
Clause X. The Party Conference 39 Clause VIII. Conference 51
Clause XI. Duties of the General Meeting 40
Chapter 12 Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Clause I. Model Standing Orders for Party Units 66
Forums 52 Appendix 1 NEC statement on the importance of our
Clause I. Name 52 members 71
Clause II. Objects 52 Appendix 2 NEC procedural guidelines on
Clause III. General Principles 52 membership recruitment and retention 72
Clause IV. Membership 52 Appendix 3 NEC procedures for the selection of
Parliamentary Candidates following the
Clause V. Officers and Executive Committee 52
boundary review commenced 2016 77
Clause VI. Meetings 53
Clause I. Introduction & Background 77
Clause VII. Finance 53
Clause II. Trigger ballots of sitting MPs 77
Clause VIII. General 53
Clause III. Timetable for parliamentary selections
Clause IX. Candidates 53
among sitting MPs 79
Clause X. Relations with the Labour group 53
Clause IV. Freeze dates 79
Clause XI. Miscellaneous 54
Appendix 4 NEC Procedures for the selection of local
Chapter 13 Rules for local government Labour government Candidates 80
groups on principal authorities 55
Appendix 5 NEC Advice Note – Interviewing sitting
Clause I. General rules and provisions for Labour councillors or recent candidates 88
groups on local authorities 55
Appendix 6 Procedural guidelines in disciplinary
Clause II. Aims and Values 55 cases brought before the NCC 90
Clause III. Membership of the group 57 Appendix 7 Procedural guidelines for the general
Clause IV. Group meetings 57 organisation of Constituency Labour
Clause V. Group officers 58 Parties 95
Clause VI. Group executive 58 Clause I. General 95
Clause VII. Casual vacancies 58 Clause II. Delegate Organisation 95
Clause VIII. Determination of group policy and action 58 Clause III. Basis of representation 95
Clause IX. Selection of nominations for civic offices, Clause IV. Conditions for appointment of delegates to
council leadership and other council this CLP 95
appointments 58 Clause V. Non Delegate Organisation 96
Clause X. Arrangements with other parties 59 Clause VI. Other Methods of Organisation 96
Clause XI. Action by individual members 59 Appendix 8 NEC statement - A minimum guarantee
Clause XII. Groups on committees 59 of support to CLPs 97
Clause XIII. Breach of rule 59 Clause I. Introduction 97
Clause XIV. Reporting to and consulting with the Party 60 Clause II. The minimum guarantee will: 97
Clause XV. Group standing orders 60 Clause III. The detail of the proposal 97
Clause XVI. Compliance with PPERA 61 Clause IV. The aim of each fund is as follows: 98
Clause XVII. Miscellaneous 61 Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct 99
Chapter 14 Rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums 62 1. Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment and
Clause I. Name 62 Gender Discrimination. 99
Clause II. Aims and values 62 2. Code of Conduct: Antisemitism and other
forms of racism 99
Clause III. Membership 62
3. Code of Conduct: Social Media Policy 99
Clause IV. Management 62
4. Code of Conduct: Member’s Pledge 100
Clause V. Meetings 62
Clause VI. Activities 63
Clause VII. Finances 63
Clause VIII. General 63
Clause IX. Alteration to rules 64 Contacts and Glossary
Chapter 15 Model procedural rules 66
Chapter 1
Constitutional rules
Clause I.
Name and objects
1. This organisation shall be known as ‘The Labour
Party’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Party’).
2. Its purpose is to organise and maintain in
Parliament and in the country a political Labour
Party
3. The Party shall bring together members and
supporters who share its values to develop
policies, make communities stronger through
collective action and support, and promote the
election of Labour Party representatives at all
levels of the democratic process.
4. The Party shall give effect, as far as may be
practicable, to the principles from time to time
approved by Party conference.
Clause II.
Party structure and affiliated
organisations
1. There shall be a National Executive Committee of
the Party (the ‘NEC’) which shall, subject to the
control and directions of Party conference, be the
administrative authority of the Party.
2. The Party shall be organised on the following
basis:
A. Where the NEC so determines there shall be
established in any Westminster parliamentary
constituency, Welsh Assembly constituency, or
Scottish Parliamentary constituency a unit of
the Party, to be known as a ‘Constituency
Labour Party’ or ‘CLP’’
B. Where practicable within each CLP, members
shall be organised in branches, the number
and area covered by such branches to be
agreed by the CLP and the NEC
3. Organisations may, subject to the decision of the
C. A women’s forum may be established in each
CLP, consisting of all individual women
members within that CLP. An ethnic minorities
forum may be established consisting of all
individual Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME)
individual members within that CLP. Other
forums may be established as appropriate
with the approval of the NEC.
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Constitutional rules
D. In Scotland, Wales and each of the English
regions there shall be established: a Scottish
Labour, Wales Labour or regional Party office;
a Scottish executive, Welsh executive or
regional board; and a European Constituency
Labour Party. There may also be established a
Scottish, Welsh or regional women’s
committee and a regional BAME members’
section.
E. Members on local authorities shall be
organised locally in Labour groups and
nationally in the Association of Labour
Councillors (ALC). The ALC, together with
elected mayors and Police Commissioners,
shall enjoy rights in respect of:
i. Annual Conference
ii. Regional, Welsh and Scottish Conferences
iii. Leadership elections
F. All individual members of the Party aged
between 14 and 26 years inclusive shall be
members of Young Labour and may establish
local Young Labour groups throughout
England, Scotland and Wales. Young Labour
shall enjoy rights in respect of:
i. Annual Conference
ii. Regional, Welsh and Scottish Conferences
iii. Nominations for Leadership elections
G. Student members of the Party shall be
organised nationally as Labour Students
H. A National Trade Union and Labour Party
Liaison Organisation shall be established to
involve affiliated unions in Party organisation,
which shall include a National Trade Union
and Labour Party Liaison Committee and
Regional Liaison Committees in Scotland,
Wales and each of the English regions
I. Labour Party Properties Limited and Labour
Party Nominees Limited shall be maintained
as companies holding Party assets, either
outright or on trust for the benefit of the
Party.
NEC, which shall be final and binding, affiliate to
the Party if they fall within the following
categories:
A. trade unions affiliated to the Trades Union
Congress or are considered by the NEC to be
bona fide trade unions
B. co-operative societies
C. socialist societies
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 D. other organisations which, in the opinion of
the NEC, have interests consistent with those
of the Party.
4. Each affiliated organisation must:
A. accept the programme, policy and principles
of the Party
B. agree to conform to the constitution and
standing orders of the Party
C. submit its political rules to the NEC.
5. Other organisations
A. Political organisations not affiliated or
associated under a national agreement with
the Party, having their own programme,
principles and policy, or distinctive and
separate propaganda, or possessing branches
in the constituencies, or engaged in the
promotion of parliamentary or local
government candidates, or having allegiance
to any political organisation situated abroad,
shall be ineligible for affiliation to the Party.
B. The panel of the NEC responsible for
assessing applications from socialist societies
to affiliate to the Party shall have regard to
procedural guidelines determined by the NEC,
which are available from the Governance and
Legal Unit.
6. Affiliations Fees
A. Trade Unions
i. Each affiliated trade union shall pay an
affiliation fee per member of £3.00.
ii. After consultation with affiliated
organisations, the NEC will determine
affiliation fees as and when necessary for
Annual Conference to approve.
iii. Of that affiliation fee, a proportion shall be
allocated to the Party’s national election
fund as provided by clause VIII.3.k of these
rules.
iv. Affiliation fees shall be payable on a
quarterly basis on the first days of January,
April, July and October each year and must
have been paid in full not later than 31
December of the relevant year.
B. Socialist Societies
i. Each affiliated socialist society or other
organisation shall pay an affiliation fee per
member of £1.25.
ii. Of that affiliation fee, 10p shall be
allocated to the Party’s national election
fund as provided by clause VIII.3.k. of
these rules.
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Constitutional rules
iii. All affiliation fees shall be paid not later
than 31 December of the relevant year.
C. Affiliation fees and the allocation thereof may
be varied by Party conference and sub-clauses
6.A.i to 6.B.iii above modified accordingly.
7. Membership fees and insurance
A. Membership fees for each individual member
shall be collected by, or on behalf of, the
Party’s Head Office and shall be divided
between Head Office, the relevant regional
office, or Scottish/ Welsh office as the case
may be, and the relevant CLP, as laid down in
the membership rules.
B. The NEC shall arrange on behalf of all CLPs an
insurance scheme to cover a by-election
premium, public liability, and such other legal
risks as the NEC considers appropriate. The
estimated cost of such insurance for the
following year shall be advised to the annual
session of Party conference and each CLP
shall be notified of its share of the cost which
must be paid by 15 April of the following year;
wherever possible this shall be deducted from
a CLP’s share of membership subscriptions
during the first quarter of each year.
Clause III.
The Party’s financial scheme
1. The Party shall maintain a financial scheme
approved by the Electoral Commission and shall
consist of a central organisation with accounting
units
2. The following may, subject to the approval of the
NEC, be registered as accounting units under the
Party’s financial scheme:
A. CLPs
B. the Scottish Labour Party
C. Wales Labour
D. Labour Students
E. the Association of Labour Councillors (‘ALC’)
F. the Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison
Committee and the National and Regional
Trade Union Liaison Committees
G. the Parliamentary Labour Party (‘PLP’)
H. such other Party units as shall from time to
time be agreed by the NEC to be eligible for
registration.
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3. All accounting units will comply with their legal
obligations under PPERA 2000, including using 1
January to 31 December as the financial year,
maintaining adequate financial records,
identifying and reporting donations and loans,
producing an annual statement of accounts by
the end of the first quarter of the following year
and providing all relevant information as
requested to the Party. Failure to meet these
obligations may lead to the NEC taking
disciplinary action against individual members,
the suspension of the appropriate Party unit or
both.
4. The financial year for all units of the Party shall be
st st
1 January to 31 December.
Clause IV.
Aims and values
1. The Labour Party is a democratic socialist Party. It
believes that by the strength of our common
endeavour we achieve more than we achieve
alone, so as to create for each of us the means to
realise our true potential and for all of us a
community in which power, wealth and
opportunity are in the hands of the many not the
few; where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties
we owe and where we live together freely, in a
spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.
2. To these ends we work for:
A. A DYNAMIC ECONOMY, serving the public
interest, in which the enterprise of the market
and the rigour of competition are joined with
the forces of partnership and co-operation to
produce the wealth the nation needs and the
opportunity for all to work and prosper with a
thriving private sector and high-quality public
services where those undertakings essential
to the common good are either owned by the
public or accountable to them
B. A JUST SOCIETY, which judges its strength by
the condition of the weak as much as the
strong, provides security against fear, and
justice at work; which nurtures families,
promotes equality of opportunity, and
delivers people from the tyranny of poverty,
prejudice and the abuse of power
C. AN OPEN DEMOCRACY, in which government
is held to account by the people, decisions are
taken as far as practicable by the communities
they affect and where fundamental human
rights are guaranteed
D. A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, which we protect,
enhance and hold in trust for future
generations.
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Constitutional rules
3. Labour is committed to the defence and security
of the British people and to co-operating in
European institutions, the United Nations, the
Commonwealth and other international bodies to
secure peace, freedom, democracy, economic
security and environmental protection for all.
4. Labour shall work in pursuit of these aims with
trade unions and co-operative societies and also
with voluntary organisations, consumer groups
and other representative bodies.
5. On the basis of these principles, Labour seeks the
trust of the people to govern.
Clause V.
Party programme
1. At all levels the Party will ensure that members,
elected representatives, affiliated organisations
and, where practicable, the wider community are
able to participate in the process of policy
consideration and formulation.
2. Party conference shall decide from time to time
what specific proposals of legislative, financial or
administrative reform shall be included in the
Party programme. This shall be based on the
rolling programme of work of the National Policy
Forum. No proposal shall be included in the final
Party programme unless it has been adopted by
the Party conference by a majority of not less
than two-thirds of the votes recorded on a card
vote.
3. When in Government the NEC, the seven
backbench members of the Parliamentary
Committee of the Parliamentary Labour Party
(‘PLP’) plus the Chair of the PLP, the Cabinet, the
Leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Labour Parties,
the Chair and three vice Chairs of the NPF, two
CLP members of the NPF to be elected by CLP
delegates to the NPF, and eight Trade Union
members of the TULO Contact Group, shall
decide which items from the Party programme
shall be included in the manifesto which shall be
issued by the NEC prior to every general election.
The joint meeting shall also define the attitude of
the Party to the principal issues raised by the
election which are not covered by the manifesto.
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4. When not in Government the NEC, the Shadow
Cabinet, the Parliamentary Committee of the
Parliamentary Labour Party (‘PLP’), the Leaders of
the Scottish and Welsh Labour Parties, and the
Chair and three vice Chairs of the NPF and eight
Trade Union members of the TULO Contact
Group shall decide which items from the Party
programme shall be included in the manifesto
that shall be issued by the NEC prior to every
general election. The joint meeting shall also
define the attitude of the Party to the principal
issues raised by the election which are not
covered by the manifesto.
5. The NEC shall decide which items from the
programme shall be included in the election
manifesto for the European Parliament after
consultation with the European Parliamentary
Labour Party (‘EPLP’) and with sister parties in the
Party of European Socialists.
Clause VI.
Labour Party Conference
1. The work of the Party shall be under the direction
and control of Party conference, which shall itself
be subject to the constitution and standing
orders of the Party. Party conference shall meet
regularly once in every year and also at such
other times as it may be convened by the NEC.
2. The rules for the convening and operation of
Party conference are contained in chapter 3 of
these rules which may be amended by decision of
the NEC, subject to ratification by Party
conference. Party conference and special
sessions of Party conference in these rules are
referred to as ‘Party conference’ and these rules
(except where the context otherwise requires)
shall apply thereto.
Clause VII.
Party officers and statutory officers
1. Party officers
A. Leader and deputy leader
i. There shall be a leader and deputy leader
of the Party who shall, ex-officio, be leader
and deputy leader of the PLP.
ii. The leader and deputy leader of the Party
B. Chair and vice-chair
shall be elected or re-elected from among
Commons members of the PLP in
accordance with procedural rule Chapter 4
Clause II below, at a Party conference
convened in accordance with clause VI
above. In respect to the election of the
leader and deputy leader, the standing
C. General Secretary
orders of the PLP shall always
Chapter 1
Constitutional rules
automatically be brought into line with
these rules.
iii. The Leader shall be the person registered
as the Party’s Leader for legal purposes.
iv. The Leader shall have the right to attend
any Party meeting (or to appoint
representatives to attend on his or her
behalf) in order to promote understanding
and co-operation between all sections of
the Party.
v. The Leader shall, as a member of the NEC,
uphold and enforce the constitution, rules
and standing orders of the Party and
ensure the maintenance and development
of an effective political Labour Party in
parliament and in the country.
vi. The Leader shall report to Annual
Conference on the work and state of the
Party and its aspirations for the country
and make regular reports to the NEC,
National Policy Forum and other Party
bodies between annual conferences.
vii. The Leader shall in conjunction with the
NEC have overall responsibility for all
elections and shall appoint a Campaign Co-
ordinator and a Campaign Committee to
ensure that all Labour Party election
campaigns report to the Leader and
receive the support and assistance they
need.
viii. When the Party is in Government, the
Leader shall appoint the Cabinet and all
other front bench positions in their
capacity as Prime Minister. When the Party
is not in Government, MPs in the Shadow
Cabinet shall be appointed by the Party
Leader, as shall the Chief Whip. The Party
Leader shall also appoint all other
frontbench positions outside the Shadow
Cabinet.
ix. The Leader shall consult the Deputy
Leader on a regular basis and the Deputy
Leader shall provide the Leader with
advice and support in achieving the goals
of the Party and deputise as requested
i. There shall be a chair and vice-chair of the
Party elected by the NEC from among its
own members in accordance with the
provisions set out in procedural rule
Chapter 4 II.3 below.
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 i. There shall be a General Secretary of the
Party who shall be appointed in
accordance with the provisions set out in
procedural rule Chapter 4.II.4.A below. The
General Secretary shall act as secretary to
the NEC.
ii. For the avoidance of doubt, wherever in
this rule book or upon instruction or
delegation by the NEC, or a committee or
sub-committee thereof, the General
Secretary has a function to discharge, she
or he may delegate the discharge of such
function to such appropriate officer or
designated representative of the Party as
she or he shall see fit. Further, the General
Secretary shall be deemed always to have
had the power so to delegate.
D. Party Treasurer
i. There shall be a treasurer of the Party who
shall be elected by Party conference at its
regular annual meeting in accordance with
the provisions set out in rule Chapter 4
II.5.A below.
E. Auditors
i. Two conference delegates shall be elected
in accordance with rule Chapter 4 II.6
below to act as auditors of the Party
accounts to be submitted to the annual
session of Party conference in the year
following that in which they were elected.
2. Statutory officers
A. In order to comply with statutory
requirements:
i. The Party shall notify the Electoral
Commission of:
a. a person to be registered as the
Party’s leader
b. a person to be registered as the
Party’s nominating officer
c. a person to be registered as the
Party’s treasurer.
ii. The Party may also notify the Electoral
Commission of:
a. a person or persons to be registered
as the Party’s deputy treasurer(s)
b. a person to be registered as the
Party’s campaigns officer.
iii. Each accounting unit shall notify the Party
of the following appointments, to be
notified by the Party to the Electoral
Commission:
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Constitutional rules
a. a person to be registered as the
accounting unit’s treasurer
b. a person to be registered as the
accounting unit’s deputy treasurer
B. In the case of 2.A.i.b and 2.A.i.c, and 2.Aii.a
and 2.A.ii.b above, the registration of a person
or persons as statutory officers shall be
subject to the approval of the NEC.
Clause VIII.
The National Executive Committee
1. The NEC shall comprise:
A. 28 members elected in such proportion and
under such conditions as may be set out in
rules Chapter 3.III below and Chapter 4.III
below.
B. the leader and deputy leader of the Party
C. the leader of the EPLP
D. the treasurer of the Party
E. three frontbench Members of Parliament, at
least one of whom must be a woman,
nominated by the Cabinet (or Shadow Cabinet
in opposition)
F. one youth member elected at the national
Young Labour Conference who must be a
woman at least every other term.
G. one member elected by the BAME Labour at
its conference as laid down in the rules of the
socialist society. This member to be elected
once the individual membership of the
socialist society has reached 2,500 and at least
one third of eligible trade unions have also
affiliated to the socialist society.
H. One frontbench member of the Scottish
Parliament nominated by the Leader of the
Scottish Labour Party.
I. One frontbench member of the National
Assembly of Wales nominated by the Leader
of the Welsh Labour Party.
2. The primary purpose of the NEC shall be to
provide a strategic direction for the Party as a
whole and to maintain and develop an active
Party in the country, working in partnership with
the Party’s representatives in Parliament, the
European Parliament, devolved administrations
and local government to secure the Party’s
objectives. The key functions of the NEC are to:
A. contribute to policy development
B. win elections and maintain the support of
voters
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 C. maintain a healthy Party at all levels, engaged
in the community upholding the highest
standards in public life
D. ensure a high quality of service through a
contract with Party members
E. fulfil its operational and constitutional
responsibilities as defined in this clause
F. maintain a balanced partnership between all
Party stakeholders
G. ensure the Party meets its legal and financial
responsibilities in compliance with the Political
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
and all other legislative requirements.
3. In furtherance of its primary purpose and key
functions, the duties and powers of the NEC shall
include:
A. to uphold and enforce the constitution, rules
and standing orders of the Party and to take
any action it deems necessary for such
purpose, including disaffiliation, disbanding,
suspending or otherwise disciplining any
affiliated organisation or Party unit; in
furtherance of such duties it shall have the
power to suspend or take other
administrative action against individual
members of the Party subject to the
provisions of the disciplinary rules set out in
Chapter 6 below of these rules
B. subject to the preceding sub-clause A and
through its national and regional officers,
where the NEC so determines, to ensure the
establishment of and to keep in active
operation in accordance with the rules laid
down by Party conference
i. a regional board in each region designated
by the NEC and, in the case of Scotland
and Wales, a Scottish executive and Welsh
executive
ii. CLPs in each Westminster parliamentary
and European parliamentary constituency
area
iii. an Local Campaign Forum (LCF) for each
elected level of local authority above
parish or community – and a Labour group
of councillors on local authorities having
Labour representation
C. to establish and promote Young Labour by
encouraging the formation of local Young
Labour groups, holding a regular Young
Labour Conference and establishing a
national committee in accordance with the
rules laid down by Party conference
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Constitutional rules
D. to establish and promote a women’s
organisation throughout the country by
encouraging the formation of women’s
forums and by holding a regular national
women’s conference in accordance with the
rules laid down by Party conference
E. to ensure that Party meetings and events shall
be conducted in a friendly and orderly
manner and organised in such a way as to
maximize participation from members and
that no member shall be precluded from
attendance because they cannot gain access
to the meeting place for any reason.
Harassment or intimidation of any member is
unacceptable as is any form of discrimination
on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation
and gender identity, disability or race. The
NEC shall from time to time, issue guidance
and instructions on the conduct of meetings
and guidance and instructions on the
implementation of quotas for women’s
representation
F. to confer with the PLP at the opening of each
parliamentary session and to convene at any
other time when it or the PLP may desire a
conference on any matters relating to the
work and progress of the Party. When a
Labour government is in office, to confer with
its representatives prior to the formulation of
legislative proposals for the next
parliamentary session
G. to present to the regular annual meeting of
Party conference a report covering the work
and progress of the Party during its period of
office, together with a report on the work of
the NEC committees, a financial statement
and duly audited accounts. This report,
financial statement and accounts shall be sent
to CLPs and affiliated organisations at least
two clear weeks before the opening of Party
conference
H. to propose to Party conference such
amendments to the constitution, rules and
standing orders as may be deemed desirable;
also, in accordance with the rules, to submit
to the Party conference such resolutions and
declarations affecting the programme,
principles and policies of the Party as in its
view may be necessitated by political
circumstances
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 I. to establish a Joint Policy Committee to
oversee the National Policy Forum and the
Policy Commissions in producing a rolling
programme for submission to Party
conference. The NEC shall also produce
guidelines for the establishment and
operation of local policy forums.
J. to require CLPs to hold ballots of individual
members on such matters as they deem to be
appropriate; such ballots, where considered
necessary by the NEC or where provided for in
these rules, shall be conducted by means of a
one-member-one-vote ballot on ballot papers
provided by, and to a timetable and
procedure laid down by, the NEC
K. to organise and maintain such fund or funds
as may be thought necessary for any or all of
the objects for which the Party exists.
L. to secure advances from time to time, or to
raise loans either by mortgage or otherwise
and on such terms as it may deem expedient;
to employ any part of the funds at its disposal
in the purchase of any freehold or leasehold
building or site and/ or in the building, leasing,
holding or rental of any premises, and in the
fitting up and maintenance thereof; and to
invest any moneys not immediately required
in such securities as it may deem proper and
to realise or to vary such investments from
time to time and to appoint trustees and/ or
form a society, association, company or
companies in accordance with the provisions
of the Friendly Societies Acts or the
Companies Acts for any or all of the above
purposes and to define the powers of such
trustees, society, association, company or
companies and the manner in which such
powers shall be exercised.
M. to issue guidance, give rulings and bring
forward rule changes to Party conference to
ensure continued compliance with the Party’s
legal and financial responsibilities, and to take
action on the advice of the General Secretary
to protect the Party from actions by
organisations and individuals who fail to
comply with, or fail to co-operate with the
Party in meeting, such legislative
requirements.
Chapter 1
Constitutional rules
N. to ensure an equal opportunities procedure is
in place which covers the rights of members
during all Party activities. The NEC will work to
deliver a Labour Party that reflects the
communities it serves and will therefore
ensure policy, practices and procedures
enshrine principles of equalities, inclusion and
diversity. The NEC confirms the policy of
promoting equality, tackling under
representation and not unfairly discriminating
against anyone including on the basis of
gender, age, race, sexual orientation and
gender identity, disability or religious beliefs.
The NEC shall provide guidance for all aspects
of the Party including selections to
Westminster Parliament, European
Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Welsh
Assembly, Devolved Bodies, Directly Elected
Mayors, and Councillors for Principal
Authorities. The NEC is responsible for
monitoring and developing equalities policy.
4. The NEC shall have the power to adjudicate in
disputes that may arise at any level of the Party,
including between CLPs, affiliated organisations
and other Party units, and between CLPs, other
Party units and individuals in those units and in
disputes which occur between individual
members or within the Party organisation. Where
the rules do not meet the particular
circumstances, the NEC may have regard to
national or local custom and practice as the case
may require. The NEC’s decisions shall be final
and binding on all organisations, units and
individuals concerned.
5. All powers of the NEC may be exercised as the
NEC deems appropriate through its elected
officers, committees, sub-committees, the
General Secretary and other national and
regional officials and designated representatives
appointed by the NEC or the General Secretary.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared
that the NEC shall have the power to delegate its
powers to such officers and committees and
subcommittees of the NEC and upon such terms
as from time to time it shall see fit. Further, it
shall be deemed always to have had such power.
Page 7
Clause IX.
The National Constitutional
Committee
1. There shall be a National Constitutional
Committee of the Party (‘the NCC’) to be elected
at Party conference in accordance with the
procedural rules (rule Chapter 4 III.C below). The
NCC shall consist of 11 members of the Party
each of whom has been a member of the Party
for a continuous period of not less than five years
immediately prior to their election.
2. The duties and powers of the NCC shall be:
A. to determine by hearing or otherwise such
disciplinary matters as are presented to it by
CLPs in accordance with the provisions
contained in the disciplinary rules (Chapter 6
below).
B. to determine by hearing or otherwise such
disciplinary matters as are presented to it by
the officers of the Party on the instructions of
the NEC
C. where a determination has been made as a
result of a case brought under A or B above,
to impose such disciplinary measures as it
thinks fit whether by way of reprimand or
suspension from holding office in the Party, or
being a delegate to any Party body, or
withholding or withdrawing endorsement as a
candidate or prospective candidate of the
Party at any level, or expulsion from
membership of the Party or other penalty.
The decisions of the NCC in determining such
disciplinary matters brought before it and
imposing such disciplinary measures as it sees
fit, shall be final.
3. Meetings of the NCC
A. The NCC shall elect its chair each year from
among its members at its first meeting to be
held as soon after each annual session of
Party conference as practicable.
B. The quorum for full meetings of the NCC or
hearings in front of the full NCC shall be not
less than four members, who shall be present
for the entirety of a hearing involving any
individual.
Chapter 1
Constitutional rules
C. The NCC may, for the better ordering of its
business from time to time and as it thinks fit,
divide into panels of not less than three
members who shall have the full powers of
the NCC. Each such panel shall elect a chair as
occasion requires it. Each such panel shall
include at least one member from each of
divisions I and III as provided for in procedural
rule Chapter 4.III.C below. If a member of such
a panel is unable to attend a hearing, the chair
of the NCC may appoint another member of
the NCC to that panel as a replacement.
D. The NCC or any panel thereof shall meet at
such time and at such place as it thinks fit
having regard to the convenience of the
individual concerned, the members of the
NCC or panel, any witnesses and the effective
and proper conduct of any hearing.
4. The NCC or any panel thereof in hearing and
determining charges against an individual shall
have regard to procedural guidelines as
determined by the NCC. The NCC shall have the
power to supplement such guidelines from time
to time and to modify its procedures in order to
meet the circumstances of any particular case to
ensure fairness to both the individual and the
Party.
5. The NCC shall have the right to dismiss without
full hearing or at any point any case presented to
it which it or the panel appointed to hear the case
considers by a majority vote to be frivolous,
vexatious, an abuse of the processes of the NCC,
or where it considers that no case to answer has
been established.
Clause X.
Scope of rules
1. The general provisions of these rules shall apply
to all units of the Party and the model rules and
standing orders appended to these constitutional
rules shall apply to:
A. CLPs
B. member branches organised within CLPs
C. women’s forums
D. Young Labour and Young Labour groups
E. Local Campaign Forums (LCFs)
F. local government Labour groups
G. the Scottish executive, Welsh executive and
English regional boards, including when acting
as European Constituency Labour Parties.
H. ethnic minorities forums
Page 8
2. The NEC shall have the authority to sanction,
where the NEC considers local circumstances
render it necessary, modifications in the rules laid
down by Party conference for the various Party
units. Such modifications shall comply with the
spirit and intention of the rules adopted by Party
conference and may not alter the Party objects,
the basis or conditions of affiliated and individual
membership, vary the procedure for the selection
of parliamentary or local government candidates
(except as provided for in the rules) or effect a
change in the relationship between CLPs and the
Party.

3. Party units may adopt additional rules which shall

not contravene the provisions contained in the
rules adopted by Party conference and must be
submitted to the NEC for endorsement prior to
final adoption and implementation; pending such
endorsement or rejection no such additional rule
may be invoked.

4. The existing constitution and rules, or any part

thereof, may be amended, altered or additions
made thereto by resolutions carried on a card
vote at Party conference in the manner provided
for in the procedural rules for Party conference
which are appended hereto. Notice of resolution
embodying any such proposal must be sent to
the General Secretary at the Head Office of the
Party also in the manner provided for in the
procedural rules.

5. For the avoidance of any doubt, any dispute as to

the meaning, interpretation or general
application of the constitution, standing orders
and rules of the Party or any unit of the Party
shall be referred to the NEC for determination,
and the decision of the NEC thereupon shall be
final and conclusive for all purposes. The decision
of the NEC subject to any modification by Party
conference as to the meaning and effect of any
rule or any part of this constitution and rules
shall be final.

Chapter 1
Constitutional rules Page 9
Chapter 2
Membership rules
Clause I.
Conditions of membership
1. There shall be individual members of the Labour
Party who shall pay a subscription in accordance
with these rules, subject to a minimum as laid
down in Clause III below.
2. The term ‘individual members of the Party’ shall
encompass all grades of membership laid down
in Clause III below; all such members shall have
equivalent rights within all units of the Party
except as prescribed in these rules.
3. Individual members shall be subjects/residents of
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland or citizens of Eire or other
persons resident in The United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland for more than one
year who:
A. are not less than14 years of age, and
B. subscribe to the conditions of membership in
this clause, and
C. are not members of political parties or
organisations ancillary or subsidiary thereto
declared by Party conference or by the NEC in
pursuance of Party conference decisions to be
5. Resident abroad
ineligible for affiliation to the Party.
4. Exclusions
A. A member of the Party who stands for
election, subscribes to a nomination paper of
or acts as the election agent to a person
standing for election, in opposition to a
Labour candidate, shall automatically be
ineligible to be or remain a Party member,
subject to the provisions of Chapter 6.I.2
below of the disciplinary rules.
B. A member of the Party who joins and/ or
supports a political organisation other than an
official Labour group or other unit of the
Party, or supports any candidate who stands
against an official Labour candidate, or
publicly declares their intent to stand against
a Labour candidate, shall automatically be
ineligible to be or remain a Party member,
subject to the provisions of Chapter 6.I.2
below of the disciplinary rules.
Chapter 2
Membership rules
C. A member of the Party that is a duly endorsed
Labour candidate and stands by their own
volition as a candidate under a description
other than as a Labour candidate and having
given less than 14 days written notice of such
to the local Party prior to the close of
nominations, shall automatically be ineligible
to be or remain a Party member, subject to
the provisions of Chapter 6.I.2 below of the
disciplinary rules.
D. Where a member has been convicted of a
serious criminal offence or subject of a
serious ruling from HM Courts and Tribunals
Service, the NEC shall have the right to impose
the appropriate disciplinary action from the
following options:
i. Suspension from membership or from
holding office and representation of the
Party for the duration of any prison
sentence imposed, including a suspended
sentence.
ii. Referral of disciplinary case to the NCC
iii. Where the NEC determines it is
appropriate and based on a conviction for
a serious offence or subject of a serious
ruling from HM Courts and Tribunals
Service, resolve that a member is ineligible
to be or remain a Party member, subject to
the provisions of Chapter 6.I.2 below of the
disciplinary rules.
A. Subjects of Great Britain or Northern Ireland
or citizens of Eire, the Channel Islands and Isle
of Man resident abroad may become
individual overseas members of the Party, by
enrolment with Head Office and paying the
full standard rate subscription, provided they
accept the conditions of membership in this
clause. Overseas members may establish
overseas supporters groups registered with
Head Office.
B. Subjects of Great Britain or Northern Ireland
temporarily resident abroad may retain their
existing membership of the Party, subject to
notifying Head Office of their address, paying
the full standard rate subscription and
accepting the conditions of membership in
this clause.
Page 10
 C. The individual members and supporters
groups referred to in this clause shall be
known as Labour International which shall
operate according to regulations approved by
the NEC but shall include provision for the
representation of Labour International
members at Party conference, with a voting
entitlement as for CLPs in Chapter 3.III.3.A.ii
below.
6. To be and remain eligible for membership, each
individual member must:
A. accept and conform to the constitution,
programme, principles and policy of the Party
B. if applicable, be a member of a trade union
affiliated to the Trade Union Congress or
considered by the NEC as a bona fide trade
union and contribute to the political fund of
that union (a person who does not contribute
to the political fund of her/his trade union
may not be an individual member of the
Party)
C. be a member of the CLP (where one exists) for
the address where she or he resides and is
registered as an elector unless having moved
since the registration qualifying date,
temporarily resident abroad or otherwise
prevented from being registered, in which
case she or he must be resident within that
constituency.
D. on becoming elected as a public
representative (i.e. member of Westminster,
Scottish or European Parliament, Greater
London Assembly, Welsh Assembly, Police
Commissioner or local government body), pay
their membership subscriptions by Direct
Debit and at least at the standard rate.
7. The NEC may rescind endorsement as a full Party
member when evidence is provided that the
individual concerned neither resides at the
address given on the membership system and/or
is not on the electoral register and is therefore
(subject to 5 above) ineligible for membership; or
where evidence is provided that the individual
concerned has been claiming reduced rate or
registered membership when s/he is not entitled
to it under Clause III.1 below.
Chapter 2
Membership rules
8. No member of the Party shall engage in conduct
which in the opinion of the NEC is prejudicial, or
in any act which in the opinion of the NEC is
grossly detrimental to the Party. The NEC shall
take account of any codes of conduct currently in
force and shall regard any incident which in their
view might reasonably be seen to demonstrate
hostility or prejudice based on age; disability;
gender reassignment or identity; marriage and
civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race;
religion or belief; sex; or sexual orientation as
conduct prejudicial to the Party: these shall
include but not be limited to incidents involving
racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia or otherwise
racist language, sentiments, stereotypes or
actions, sexual harassment, bullying or any form
of intimidation towards another person on the
basis of a protected characteristic as determined
by the NEC, wherever it occurs, as conduct
prejudicial to the Party. Any dispute as to whether
a member is in breach of the provisions of this
sub-clause shall be determined by the NCC in
accordance with Chapter 1 Clause IX above and
the disciplinary rules and guidelines in Chapter 6
below. Where appropriate the NCC shall have
regard to involvement in financial support for the
organisation and/or the activities of any
organisation declared ineligible for affiliation to
the Party under Chapter 1.II.5 or 3.C above; or to
the candidature of the members in opposition to
an officially endorsed Labour Party candidate or
the support for such candidature. The NCC shall
not have regard to the mere holding or
expression of beliefs and opinions except in any
instance inconsistent with the Party’s aims and
values, agreed codes of conduct, or involving
prejudice towards any protected characteristic.
Clause II.
Membership procedures
1. Individual members of the Party shall be
recruited into membership in accordance with
these rules and any applicable NEC guidelines
which shall be issued to Party units and affiliated
organisations from time to time. Members of
affiliated organisations not already members who
have paid the political levy or political
subscriptions to the affiliated organisation for a
period of at least 12 months may be recruited
into membership of the Party via that affiliated
organisation as registered members.
Page 11
2. Without prejudice to any other provision of these
rules, and without prejudice to its powers under
Chapter 1.VIII, the NEC shall be empowered to
determine any dispute or question which may
arise in respect of membership of the Party,
either by considering the matter itself or by
referring the matter to the NEC Disputes Panel
for a decision. In such cases the NEC’s decision, or
the decision of the Disputes Panel as approved by
the NEC, shall be final and binding.
3. For the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice
to any other provision in this rule book, any
breach of any of these procedures, NEC
guidelines or the NEC code of conduct shall be
liable to be dealt with by the NCC as a disciplinary
offence.
4. The NEC shall issue procedural guidelines on
issues relating to membership from time to time,
including a code of conduct on membership
recruitment. In particular, the NEC wishes to
highlight the following areas of potential abuse of
membership rules:
A. It is an abuse of Party rules for one individual
or faction to ‘buy’ Party membership for other
individuals or groups of individuals who would
otherwise be unwilling to pay their own
subscriptions.
B. It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual
or faction to offer reduced-rate membership
to people they know to be ineligible for that
category of membership.
C. It is an abuse of Party rules for individuals or
factions to recruit members who do not live at
the claimed addresses in an attempt to
manipulate local Party meetings or the
outcome of Party ballots.
D. It is a requirement of Party rules for members,
where eligible, to register to vote at the
address for which they claim membership. It
is an abuse of this rule to allow those who are
not willing to register to vote for the Party to
become members of it.
E. It shall be regarded as an act grossly
detrimental to the Party to withhold
membership payments collected locally.
F. Party officers and members should be aware
that involvement in such abuses shall be
considered as behaviour likely to bring the
Party into disrepute and prima facie evidence
of such behaviour may lead to disciplinary
action leading to expulsion under the
constitutional rules of the Party.
Chapter 2
Membership rules
Clause III.
Membership subscriptions
1. Each individual member of the Party shall pay a
minimum annual membership subscription. The
level of subscription shall be set in accordance
with the formula shown below.
A. Reduced Rate
i. A reduced minimum rate set at half the
Standard Rate will be offered to persons
who are unwaged, pensioners who have
retired from work, persons working less
than 16 hours a week and persons on
government training schemes,
B. Elected Representative Rate
i. An elected representative’s rate shall be
set at twice the Standard Rate for all
elected representatives with the exception
of local authority councillors.
C. Registered Trade Union Rate
i. Members of an affiliated trade union
paying the political levy and members of
an affiliated socialist society paying a
political subscription, who are not already
full members of the Party, shall be allowed
individual ‘registered’ membership of the
Party at a reduced minimum annual
subscription
D. Youth Rate
i. New members under the age of 19 or
Labour Students can join for an annual
subscription of £1 and can continue on
that reduced rate whilst they are in full
time education as follows:
a. Under the age of 19 at £1.00 per year
b. Under the age of 27 at £12.00 per
year, and
c. Under the age of 28 at the Reduced
Rate
E. Standard Rate
i. There shall be a standard rate for all other
members
F. Exceptions
i. The NEC may from time to time define
membership offers to encourage
recruitment and retention
ii. To further aid retention, members
recruited by an NEC exceptional rate shall
be offered the opportunity to renew at the
end of their first year at the Reduced Rate
Page 12
 before moving to their appropriate rate at 5. NEC guidelines shall be published to deal with the
the end of their second year. payment of membership arrears and the granting
in exceptional circumstances of continuous
G. In order to provide all members with a quality
membership to lapsed members who have paid
membership service and to achieve the
any outstanding subscriptions owed.
objectives of the Labour Party, members are
encouraged to pay a membership fee 6. An NEC approved statement shall be produced
according to their annual income. setting out the basis on which membership fees
shall be allocated, including a minimum cash
H. The NEC will determine membership rates as
allocation of £1.50 per paid up member and a
and when necessary for Annual Conference to
guaranteed minimum package of support for all
approve.
CLPs. The minimum cash allocation will increase
2. That on the 1st January each year the on January 1st each year by the rate of inflation
membership fee will increase by the rate of (using the rate of inflation for the previous
inflation (using the rate of inflation for the October.
previous October). The reduced and registered
rate membership fees will be set at 50% of the
full rate each year rounded to the nearest 50p.
The Elected Representatives’ rate will be set at
twice the standard rate each year. The NEC will
retain the power to bring to Party conference
recommendations to set the membership fee
increase at a level greater than inflation, if it
deems that necessary.

3. In order to develop membership, CLPs may

adjust membership subscriptions for specific
purposes as agreed in principle by Party
conference.

4. Eligibility and arrears

A. A member may only participate and vote in

Party meetings if they are endorsed and have
paid the appropriate subscription to Head
Office. Any dispute as to eligibility shall be
resolved by the Regional Director (or General
Secretary in Scotland and Wales) – RD(GS), or
their designated representative, with
reference to the records of the national
membership system. It is the responsibility of
the individual member to produce a valid
membership card when required.

B. To participate in the selection of candidates at

any level, a member must be fully paid up by
the notified relevant date. A member shall be
deemed to be ‘fully paid up’ if they are not in
arrears, either in whole or in part, with their
membership payments.

C. A member shall be deemed to be in arrears

from the expiry date of their membership
until they renew their subscription.

D. A member shall be deemed to have lapsed

from membership if s/he has been in arrears
for six months and has not responded to a
request to pay the arrears.

Chapter 2
Membership rules Page 13
Chapter 3
Party Conference
Clause I.
Delegations
1. Party conference shall be constituted as follows:
A. Delegates duly appointed by each affiliated
trade union or other affiliated organisation to
the number of one delegate for each 5,000
members or part thereof on whom affiliation
fees, by-election insurance premiums and any
levies due were paid for the year ending 31
December prior to the Party conference. A
requirement is placed on affiliated
organisations that their delegation should
include women at least in the proportions in
which they are represented in that
organisation’s membership. Where the
membership of an affiliated trade union or
other organisation is less than 5,000
members, an additional woman delegate may
be appointed if the women’s membership is
400 or more.
B. Delegates duly appointed by CLPs to the
number of one delegate for the first 749
individual members in the constituency or
part thereof paying their membership dues as
of 31 December in the previous year, and one
further delegate for every additional 250
individual members in the constituency or
part thereof. CLPs must also have paid any
outstanding insurance premiums and other
levies due before their delegation shall be
accepted. To increase the representation of
women at Party conference, at least every
second delegate from a CLP shall be a woman;
where only one delegate is appointed this
must be a woman at least in every other year.
In a year where a CLP is required to send a
female delegate, following a male delegate in
the preceding year, but is unable to find one,
they will not be entitled to send a man as
delegate. In the following year, permission
may be granted to send a male delegate if
they demonstrate to the conference
arrangements committee that they have
made every effort to seek a woman delegate.
C. Where the individual women’s membership in
a constituency is 100 or more, an additional
woman delegate may be appointed. Where
the individual Young Labour membership in a
constituency is 30 or more an additional
delegate under the age of 27 may be
appointed.
Chapter 3
Party Conference
D. Six delegates appointed by the ALC at least
three of whom shall be women.
E. Two delegates appointed by young Labour, at
least one of whom shall be a woman.
F. Ex-officio members of Party conference are as
follows:
i. members of the NEC
ii. members of the PLP
iii. members of the EPLP
iv. parliamentary Labour candidates for
Westminster and European elections
whose candidatures have been endorsed
by the NEC
v. candidates for Police Commissioner
vi. the General Secretary of the Labour Party
vii. accredited organisers employed by the
Party
viii. the lay members of the NEC committees
ix. the national chair of Young Labour
x. members of the NCC
xi. members of the CAC
xii. members of the National Policy Forum
xiii. officers of the Local Government
Association Labour group and the
convenor of the Convention of Scottish
Local Authorities Labour group
xiv. members of the Labour groups of the
Scottish Parliament and the National
Assembly of Wales.
xv. members of the Association of Labour
Councillors
xvi. members of the Executive Committee of
BAME Labour.
xvii. Ex-officio members shall have no
voting power, except as provided for in the
rules for the election of Party leader and
deputy leader or where they have been
notified as being a member of an affiliated
organisation’s or CLP’s delegation.
G. Any special sessions of Party conference shall
be called on the same basis of representation
as that upon which the preceding annual
session of Party conference was convened.
2. An affiliated organisation or CLP may appoint a
delegate in addition to its entitlement under 1.A
above if one of its duly appointed delegates is the
Party treasurer, a member of the NEC, a member
of the Conference Arrangements Committee, or a
member of the NCC due for re-election that year.
Page 14
3. The procedural rules of Party conference (Clause A. to arrange the order of the agenda of Party
III below) shall be considered for all purposes as if conference
they form part of the constitution and shall have
B. to act as a standing orders committee
effect accordingly.
C. to select scrutineers and tellers as may be
4. All delegates must qualify for appointment as
required from among the delegates whose
follows:
names have been received at the Head Office
A. Every delegate must be an individual member of the Party by the closing date for the
of the Party as described in the membership appointment of delegates to any conference
rules, except persons who are resident in and submit them for approval to that
Northern Ireland who are duly appointed conference.
delegates of affiliated trade unions and who
individually accept and conform to the Clause III.
constitution, programme, policy and
principles of the Party.
Procedural rules for Party
Conference
B. Delegates must be bona fide members or paid
permanent officials of the organisation 1. Conference rule 1 – Annual Party Conference
appointing them, or, in the case of CLP
A. The NEC shall (whenever practicable) convene
delegates, reside within the constituency they
an annual session of Party conference during
have been appointed to represent, except in
September/ October in each year, in
the case of members of the PLP or duly
accordance with the conditions laid down in
endorsed parliamentary Labour candidates
the constitution and these rules. It may also
appointed to represent CLPs in accordance
convene special sessions of Party conference
with sub-section C which follows.
when it deems necessary.
C. Members of the PLP and duly endorsed
B. When a Party conference is called at short
parliamentary Labour candidates may be
notice, the secretaries of affiliated
appointed as delegates by CLPs responsible
organisations and CLPs shall, on receiving the
for their candidatures; otherwise, delegates
summons, instantly take steps to secure
appointed by CLPs must either reside or be
representation of their organisation in
registered as electors in the constituency they
accordance with the constitution and these
represent.
rules.
D. No person shall act as a delegate for more
C. Any session of Party conference summoned
than one organisation.
with less than ten days’ notice shall confine its
E. Members of Parliament who are not members business strictly to that relating to the
of the PLP are ineligible to act as delegates. emergency giving rise to the special session.

F. All delegates must have been individual
members of the Party for at least 12 months
at the closing date set for the receipt of
names of delegates (see III.1.E below).
Clause II.
Conference Arrangements
Committee
1. There shall be elected in accordance with the
procedural rules (Chapter 4 III.B below) a
Conference Arrangements Committee of seven
members for the annual session of Party
conference in the year succeeding its election or
for any special session of conference called
during the intervening period. A member of staff
shall act as secretary to the committee.
D. A delegation fee on each delegate shall be
payable by affiliated organisations and CLPs
sending delegates to Party conference. Ex
officio members of Party conference in
attendance shall also pay a fee. Such fees
must be paid to Party Head Office before
credentials are issued. The amount of the
delegation fee payable for each conference
shall be fixed by the NEC and notified to all
affiliated organisations and CLPs. For the
annual session of Party conference this shall
be fixed by 31 December of the preceding
year.

2. The duties of the Conference Arrangements

Committee shall be:

Chapter 3
Party Conference Page 15
 E. The timetable for the receipt of names and
addresses of delegates appointed by affiliated
organisations and CLPs shall be determined
by the NEC and submitted to the affiliated
organisations and CLPs with the notice
convening the conference. In the case of a
special conference session called under
Clause III.1.A above, the NEC shall also
determine a date by which such names and
addresses shall be submitted.
F. The NEC may make arrangements each year
for the pooling of railway fares in respect of
delegations to Party conference appointed by
CLPs.
2. Conference rule 2 – Agenda
A. The NEC shall present to conference the
report of the NEC, including: a summary of its
work during the previous year; the work of the
NEC committees and proposed programme
for the forthcoming year. All such
documentation shall be circulated to all
affiliated organisations and CLPs by a date to
be determined by the NEC.
B. The NEC shall present to conference the
report of the NPF, including: a summary of its
work during the previous year; the work of the
policy commissions; policy documents;
options, alternatives or minority reports by
the NPF; and proposed programme for the
forthcoming year to be circulated to all
affiliated organisations and CLPs by a date to
be determined by the NEC. A Policy Ballot will
be held at Annual Conference, on the same
basis as the ballot for contemporary motions,
which will select a number of areas for
detailed discussion and development by the
NPF from topics proposed by the JPC. At least
the four topics selected by CLPs will be
prioritised, as will the four selected by Trade
Unions and other affiliated organisations
Chapter 3
Party Conference
C. All affiliated organisations, the ALC, Young
Labour and CLPs may submit one
contemporary motion which is not
substantially addressed by reports of the NEC
or NPF to Conference. The CAC shall
determine whether the motions meet these
criteria and submit all motions received to a
priorities ballot at the start of conference. The
ballot will be divided into two sections. One
section for CLPs, and one section for trade
unions and other affiliated organisations. At
least the four priorities selected by CLPs will
be time-tabled for debate, as will at least the
first four priorities selected by Trade Unions
and other affiliated organisations. Motions
must be in writing, on one subject only and in
250 words or less. Alternatively, a
constitutional amendment on one subject
only may be submitted in writing.
Contemporary motions and constitutional
amendments must be received by the General
Secretary at the offices of the Party by the
closing date determined by the NEC.
D. All affiliated organisations, the ALC, Young
Labour and CLPs may submit motions to the
NEC on campaigning and organisational
issues and to the NPF and its policy
commissions on policy issues throughout the
year. The NEC and NPF shall consider such
motions and report on action taken in their
annual report to conference.
E. Nominations for leader and deputy leader, the
NEC, treasurer, auditors, Conference
Arrangements Committee, National Policy
Forum and NCC shall be sent in writing on the
form provided to the General Secretary at the
offices of the Party by the closing date agreed
by the NEC. Each affiliated organisation, the
ALC, Young Labour, and each CLP shall be
entitled to make nominations as provided for
in these rules and such nominations shall be
included in the final agenda.
F. Constitutional amendments, contemporary
motions, emergency resolutions and
nominations shall be accepted only from
those affiliated organisations, the ALC, Young
Labour and CLPs who have met their financial
obligations to the Party, including affiliation
fees, by-election and other insurance
premiums and any levies due for the
preceding year.
Page 16
 G. Party conference shall consider policy reports be allocated to each delegate to be cast
and draft reports as part of the rolling separately.
programme, the NPF report, the NEC annual
iii. The votes apportioned as provided for in i
report, NEC statements and development
above and ii above shall be totalled and
strategy. Conference has the right to refer
the aggregate reported to conference as a
back part of any document without rejecting
percentage for each section.
the policy document as a whole. Conference
shall also consider constitutional iv. The balance of voting between the two
amendments and contemporary motions or sections shall be: 50 per cent to the
emergency resolutions submitted and affiliated organisations (as in i above), and
accepted. It shall not consider any business 50 per cent to the CLPs (as in ii above).
unless recommended by the NEC or the CAC.
B. Voting at any special conference session shall
At any special session of Party conference, the
be on the same basis as that upon which
NEC shall determine the business to be
voting took place at the preceding annual
conducted.
session of Party conference.
H. When Party conference has made a decision
on a constitutional amendment, no resolution Clause IV.
to amend the constitution or rules of the Party
having the same or a similar primary objective
National Annual Women’s
shall appear on the agenda of the three Conference
following annual party conferences, except
1. The NEC will issue procedures for holding a
such resolutions to amend the constitution
national annual women’s conference which has a
and rules that are in the opinion of the NEC of
formal role in the policy making process.
immediate importance.

3. Conference rule 3 – Voting

A. Voting at Party conference on resolutions,

reports, amendments, proposals and
references back shall be by show of hands or,
when the conditions laid down by the CAC
require it, by card. When a card vote is called,
voting shall be in two sections as follows:

i. Affiliated organisations, on the basis of the

number of members for whom affiliation
fees were paid for the year ending 31
December preceding the conference in
accordance with Clause II of the
constitution, the ALC and Young Labour,
shall cast a percentage of the total voting
entitlement as laid down in iv below. The
vote of each affiliated organisation, the
ALC and Young Labour shall then be
divided equally among the registered
delegates of that organisation standing
appointed at the date determined by the
NEC; such votes shall be allocated to each
delegate to be cast separately.

ii. CLPs shall cast a percentage of the total

voting entitlement as laid down in iv
below, on the basis of the actual number
of fully paid up members in the CLP at 31
December preceding the conference. The
vote of the CLP shall then be divided
equally among the registered delegates
standing appointed at the date
determined by the NEC; such votes shall

Chapter 3
Party Conference Page 17
Chapter 4
Elections of national
officers of the Party
and national
committees
Clause I.
General principles
1. Internal Party elections for officer posts and the
membership of national committees shall be
conducted in a fair, open and transparent
manner, in accordance with the constitutional
rules of the Party and any appropriate NEC
guidelines.
Clause II.
Procedural rules for elections for
national officers of the Party
1. General
A. The following procedures provide a rules
framework which, unless varied by the
consent of the NEC, shall be followed when
conducting elections for Party officers. The
NEC will also issue procedural guidelines on
nominations, timetable, codes of conduct for
candidates and other matters relating to the
conduct of these elections.
2. Election of leader and deputy leader
A. The leader and deputy leader shall be elected
separately in accordance with rule C below,
unless rule E below applies.
B. Nomination
i. In the case of a vacancy for leader or
deputy leader, each nomination must be
supported by 10 per cent of the combined
Commons members of the PLP and
members of the EPLP. Nominations not
attaining this threshold shall be null and
void.
ii. Where there is no vacancy, nominations
may be sought by potential challengers
each year prior to the annual session of
Party conference. In this case any
nomination must be supported by 20 per
cent of the combined Commons members
of the PLP and members of the EPLP.
Nominations not attaining this threshold
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees
shall be null and void. The sitting Leader or
Deputy Leader shall not be required to
seek nominations in the event of a
challenge under this rule.
iii. Affiliated organisations, the ALC, Young
Labour, and CLPs may also nominate for
each of the offices of leader and deputy
leader. All nominees must be Commons
members of the PLP.
iv. Nominees shall inform the General
Secretary in writing of the acceptance or
otherwise of their nomination at least two
clear weeks before the commencement of
the procedures for voting laid out in rule C
below. Unless written consent to
nomination is received, nominations shall
be rendered null and void.
v. Valid nominations shall be printed in the
final agenda for Party conference, together
with the names of the nominating
organisations and Commons members of
the PLP supporting the nominations. In the
case of a vacancy under E below this
information shall be included with the
documentation circulated with any ballot.
vi. Nominees who do not attend the relevant
Party conference shall be deemed to have
withdrawn their nominations, unless they
send to the General Secretary – on or
before the day on which the conference
opens – an explanation in writing of their
absence satisfactory to the CAC.
C. Voting
i. The General Secretary shall be the
Returning Officer.
ii. The Returning Officer shall appoint a
Labour Party legal advisor to act as Deputy
Returning Officer who shall advise on any
matters of dispute in respect of eligibility
or procedure.
iii. An Independent Scrutineer will be
appointed by the Returning Officer to
oversee and verify the ballot, and the
results shall be declared at a session of
Party Conference.
iv. The timetable for the election, including
any freeze date, and the procedures for
agreeing the list of those eligible to vote
must be approved by the Independent
Scrutineer.
v. The procedures shall ensure that each
candidate has equal access to the eligible
electorate and has equal treatment in all
other matters pertaining to the election.
Page 18
 vi. Votes shall be cast in a single section, by
Labour Party members, affiliated
supporters and registered supporters.
vii. The precise eligibility criteria shall be
defined by the National Executive
Committee and set out in procedural
guidelines and in each annual report to
conference.
viii. No person shall be entitled to receive
more than one vote. Votes shall be cast by
each individual and counted on the basis
of one person one vote.
ix. Voting shall be by preferential ballot. The
votes shall be totalled and the candidate
receiving more than half of the votes so
apportioned shall be declared elected. If
no candidate reaches this total on the
count of first preference votes, a
redistribution of votes shall take place
according to preferences indicated on the
ballot paper.
x. The votes cast for each nominee shall be
recorded and published in a form to be
determined by the NEC as soon as
possible following any election.
xi. In the event of any conflict between these
rules and the constitutional rules and
other general rules of the Party, these
rules shall prevail.
D. Timing of an election
i. When the PLP is in opposition in the House
of Commons, the election of the leader
and deputy leader shall take place at each
annual session of Party conference.
ii. When the PLP is in government and the
leader and/ or deputy leader are prime
minister and/ or in Cabinet, an election
shall proceed only if requested by a
majority of Party conference on a card
vote.
iii. In any other circumstances an election
shall only be held when a vacancy occurs,
subject to E below.
E. Procedure in a vacancy
i. When the Party is in government and the
Party leader is prime minister and the
Party leader, for whatever reason,
becomes permanently unavailable, the
Cabinet shall, in consultation with the NEC,
appoint one of its members to serve as
Party leader until a ballot under these
rules can be carried out.
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees
ii. When the Party is in government and the
deputy leader becomes Party leader under
i above of this rule, the Cabinet may, in
consultation with the NEC, appoint one of
its members to serve as deputy leader
until the next Party conference. The
Cabinet may alternatively, in consultation
with the NEC, leave the post vacant until
the next Party conference.
iii. When the Party is in government and the
deputy leader, for whatever reason,
becomes permanently unavailable, the
Cabinet may, in consultation with the NEC,
appoint one of its members to serve as
deputy leader until the next Party
conference. The Cabinet may alternatively,
in consultation with the NEC, leave the
post vacant until the next Party
conference.
iv. When the Party is in opposition and the
Party leader, for whatever reason,
becomes permanently unavailable, the
deputy leader shall automatically become
Party leader on a pro-tem basis. The NEC
shall decide whether to hold an immediate
ballot as provided under E above or to
elect a new leader at the next annual
session of Party conference.
v. When the Party is in opposition and the
leader and deputy leader, for whatever
reason, both become permanently
unavailable, the NEC shall order a postal
ballot as provided under E above. In
consultation with the Shadow Cabinet they
may choose to appoint a member of the
Shadow Cabinet to serve as Party leader
until the outcome of that ballot.
3. Election of chair and vice-chair
A. The NEC shall elect its own chair and vice-
chair at its first meeting each year. Those
elected to these positions shall act in that
capacity throughout the year and also act as
chair and vice-chair of the subsequent annual
session of Party conference and any special
sessions of Party conference during the
course of the year.
Page 19
 B. The NEC shall also elect during the course of
the year a panel of three assistant chairs who,
together with the vice-chair, shall assist the
chair in the conduct of Party conference.
These assistant chairs shall be elected by the
whole of the NEC with one each coming from
the representatives on the NEC from Divisions
I and II, Division III, and Divisions IV and V, by
selection from each division of the NEC of the
senior member who has yet to be chair or
vice-chair. The decision as to who shall chair
particular sessions of the conference shall be
taken by the chair of the NEC after
consultation with the members of the panel.
4. Election of General Secretary
A. The General Secretary shall be elected by
Party conference on the recommendation of
the NEC and shall be an ex-officio member of
Party conference. S/he shall devote her or his
whole time to the work of the Party and shall
not be eligible to act as a parliamentary
candidate. S/he shall remain in office so long
as her/ his work gives satisfaction to the NEC
and Party conference. Should a vacancy in the
office occur, for whatever reason, between
Party conferences, the NEC shall have full
power to fill the vacancy subject to the
approval of Party conference.
5. Election of Party treasurer
A. Every affiliated organisation and CLP may
nominate a person for Party treasurer who is
an eligible member of the Party.
B. The CLPs’ portion of the votes shall be cast by
a ballot among all eligible individual members
of the Party by means of a national one-
member-one-vote postal ballot conducted to
guidelines laid down by the NEC. The affiliates
portion of the votes shall be cast by a ballot of
affiliated organisations on the same timetable
as the CLP members ballot.
C. The term of office of the Party treasurer shall
be for two years.
6. Election of auditors
A. Two auditors shall be elected by means of a
ballot on a card vote basis as provided in
these rules.
B. Every affiliated organisation and CLP may
nominate up to two eligible members of the
Party for auditor.
C. In the event of an auditor being unable to
fulfil the duties, the same procedure shall be
followed to fill the vacancy as in the case of
the CAC in Chapter 4.III.B.iii below.
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees
7. Election of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the
Scottish Labour Party
A. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Scottish
Labour Party shall be elected according to the
procedural rules set out by the Scottish
Executive Committee.
8. Election of the Leader and Deputy Leader of
Welsh Labour.
A. The Leader and Deputy Leader of Welsh
Labour shall be elected according to the
procedural rules set out by the Welsh
Executive Committee.
Clause III.
Procedural rules for elections for
national committees
The following procedures provide a rules framework
to be followed when conducting elections for places
on the Party’s national decision-making committees.
The NEC will also issue procedural guidelines on
nominations, timetable, codes of conduct for
candidates and other matters relating to the conduct
of these elections.
A. Election of the NEC
i. No elected member of the House of
Commons, European Parliament, Scottish
Parliament, Welsh Assembly or a member
of the House of Lords shall be eligible to
stand in Divisions I, II, III, or IV of the NEC.
Any member of Divisions I, II, III or IV shall
cease to be a member of the NEC if they
are elected to the House of Commons,
European Parliament, Scottish Parliament,
Welsh Assembly or are appointed to the
House of Lords. The resulting vacancy shall
be filled according to the provision of
Clause iv-vi as appropriate below. For the
purpose of nomination and election the
NEC shall be divided into five divisions:
a. Division I (trade unions) shall consist
of 13 members, at least six of whom
shall be women, to be nominated by
trade unions and elected by their
delegations at Party conference.
b. Division II (socialist and co-operative
societies) shall consist of one member
to be nominated by socialist, co-
operative and other organisations and
elected by their delegations at Party
conference.
c. Division III (CLPs) shall consist of nine
members, at least four of whom shall
be women, to be nominated by at
least five CLPs. The ballot for these
Page 20
 places shall be conducted among all d. Members of the General Council of
eligible individual members of the the Trades Union Congress are not
Party by means of a national one- eligible for nomination to the NEC.
member-one-vote postal ballot
e. Persons nominated shall inform the
conducted to guidelines laid down by
General Secretary in writing of the
the NEC.
acceptance or otherwise of that
d. Division IV (local governance) shall nomination in accordance with the
consist of two members from either timetable determined by the NEC. If
the Association of Labour Councillors written consent to nomination is not
(‘ALC’), directly elected mayors, or received by the date specified in the
elected Police Commissioners, at least NEC timetable the nomination shall
one of whom shall be a woman, duly be rendered null and void.
nominated by Labour groups. The
iv. Subject to the rules on maintaining at least
ballot for these places shall be
50% representation of women, any
conducted among all individual ALC
vacancy that occurs among members of
members, directly elected mayors,
NEC Division I during a period of office
and elected Police Commissioners by
shall be filled by an election among the
means of a national one-member-
delegates of Division I at the next Party
one-vote postal ballot conducted to
conference after the vacancy arises.
guidelines laid down by the NEC.
v. Subject to the rules on maintaining at least
e. Division V (PLP) shall consist of three
50% representation for women, any
Commons members of the PLP or
vacancy that occurs among members of
members of the EPLP, at least one of
NEC Divisions II, III, IV, or V shall be filled by
whom shall be a woman. They shall
the NEC co-opting the highest
be nominated from among
unsuccessful nominee in the division
backbench Labour MPs and all MEPs
concerned as shown in the results of the
(except the leader of the EPLP) and
election for the NEC declared at the annual
elected by all Labour MPs and MEPs.
session of Party conference immediately
The ballot shall be conducted to
preceding the vacancy. For the avoidance
guidelines laid down by the NEC.
of doubt the NEC will not use its powers of
ii. The votes cast for each nominee by all co-option if that would result in a gender
affiliated organisations and CLPs shall be imbalance.
recorded and published following each
vi. If a vacancy arises in Divisions II, III, IV or V,
Party conference.
and there is no unsuccessful nominee in
iii. Nominations for the NEC shall be made in the division concerned which the NEC can
accordance with the following conditions: co-opt, then the vacancy shall be filled as
follows:
a. Nominees must be bona fide paying
members of the affiliated a. In Division II, a vacancy that cannot be
organisations/CLPs submitting their filled by co-option shall instead be
nominations (other than supporting filled by an election among the
nominations). delegates of Division II at the next
Party conference after the vacancy
b. A nominee of a CLP must be
arises. The period of office of any
registered as an elector in the area of
person elected to fill such a vacancy
the CLP submitting the nomination
shall run to the end of the original
(unless ineligible for such registration
term of the member who gave rise to
in which case s/he must be resident in
the vacancy.
that area), unless the CLP is making a
supporting nomination for a member b. In Division III, subject to the rules on
of another CLP. maintaining at least 50%
representation of women, a vacancy
c. Commons members of the PLP and
which cannot be filled by co-option
members of the EPLP shall be
shall instead be filled by an election
ineligible for nomination to Divisions I,
conducted among all eligible
II, III and IV of the NEC.
members of the Party by means of a
national one-member-one-vote postal
ballot conducted to guidelines laid
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees Page 21
 down by the NEC, only to be held if
and when a practical opportunity
arises.
c. In Division IV, subject to the rules on
maintaining at least 50%
representation of women, a vacancy
which cannot be filled by co-option
shall instead be filled by an election
conducted among all individual ALC
members by means of a national one-
member-one-vote postal ballot
conducted to guidelines laid down by
the NEC, only to be held if and when a
practical opportunity arises.
d. In Division V, subject to the rule that
at least one of the three divisional
representatives shall be a woman, a
vacancy which cannot be filled by co-
option shall instead be filled by
means of an election conducted
among all Labour MPs and MEPs,
conducted to guidelines and a
timetable laid down by the NEC.
e. The period of office of any person
who fills a vacancy on the NEC
whether by co-option or election shall
run to the end of the original term of
the member who gave rise to the
vacancy.
vii. The term of office in each of the five NEC
divisions shall be two years starting
immediately after the close of the Party
conference to which the election result is
reported except where the NEC issues
procedural guidance otherwise on an
emergency temporary basis. This rule
amendment shall be valid only until the
election of NEC positions in Division III in
2018, at which point it shall lapse
B. Election of Conference Arrangements
Committee (CAC)
i. The CAC shall consist of seven members,
at least three of whom shall be women,
comprising:
a. Five members, at least two of whom
shall be women, nominated by
affiliated organisations or CLPs shall
be elected by Party conference by
means of a ballot on a card vote basis
as provided in these rules. Each CLP
and affiliated organisation may
nominate up to five eligible members
for a seat on the CAC in this section.
b. The other two members, at least one
of whom shall be a woman,
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees
nominated by CLPs shall be elected by
means of a ballot conducted among
all eligible individual members of the
party by means of a national one-
member-one-vote postal ballot
conducted to guidelines laid down by
the NEC. Each CLP may nominate up
to two eligible members of the Party
for a seat on the CAC in this section.
ii. Members of Government (when the party
is in power) and members of the
Parliamentary Committee (when the party
is in opposition) are ineligible to stand for
the CAC.
iii. Any vacancy which occurs between Party
conferences among members of the CAC
shall be filled by the CAC co-opting the
member who received the highest total of
votes among those not elected in the
appropriate section of the ballot for the
CAC at the previous Party conference (and
not already a member of the CAC). Should
the voting list be exhausted the affiliated
organisation or CLP which nominated the
member originally elected to the vacant
seat shall nominate a substitute to serve
the rest of the term.
iv. The term of office for CAC members shall
be two years.
C. Election of National Constitutional Committee
(NCC)
i. For the purposes only of nomination and
election, the NCC shall be divided into
three divisions as follows:
a. Division I shall consist of six members,
at least three of whom shall be
women, to be nominated by affiliated
trade unions and elected by their
delegations at Party conference on a
card vote basis.
b. Division II shall consist of one
member to be nominated by socialist,
co-operative and other organisations
and elected by their delegations at
Party conference on a card vote basis.
c. Division III shall consist of four
members, at least two of whom shall
be women, to be nominated by CLPs
and elected by their delegations at
Party conference on a card vote basis.
ii. The votes cast for each nominee by all
affiliated organisations and CLPs shall be
recorded and published following each
conference.
Page 22
 iii. Nominations for the NCC shall be made in
accordance with the following conditions:
a. Nominees must be bona fide paying
members of the affiliated
organisations or CLPs submitting their
nominations.
b. No member of the NEC, MP, MEP,
employee of the Party, or any
member with less than five years
continuous membership of the Party
is eligible for nomination.
c. Persons nominated shall inform the
General Secretary in writing of the
acceptance or otherwise of that
nomination 12 clear weeks before the
opening of the Party conference.
Unless such written consent to
nomination is received the
nomination shall be deemed null and
void.
d. Each affiliated organisation/ CLP may
make one nomination for its
appropriate Division (I, II or III) of the
NCC.
iv. Members of the NCC shall be elected at an
annual session of Party conference for a
period of three years and be subject to re-
election on a rota to be determined by the
NEC.
v. Any vacancy which occurs among
members of the NCC during a period of
office shall be filled by election at the next
Party conference after the vacancy arises.
The period of office of any person elected
to fill such a vacancy shall run to the end of
the original term of the member who gave
rise to the vacancy and the new member
shall be subject to re-election at that Party
conference. Such elections shall be held in
accordance with the provisions of C above.
D. Election of National Policy Forum (NPF)
i. For the purpose of election, the NPF shall
be divided into 14 divisions as follows:
a. Division I shall consist of 55 members
to be nominated by CLPs and elected
by a ballot conducted among all
eligible individual members of the
Party by means of a regionally based
one-member-one-vote postal ballot
conducted to guidelines laid down by
the NEC. Five each shall be elected
from Scotland, Wales and the English
regions, of which one place shall be
reserved for a Young Labour
Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees
representative elected by Young
Labour members and at least two of
the four other places shall be
reserved for women. The Young
Labour representative must be a
woman at least every other election.
b. Division II shall consist of 30
members, at least 15 of whom shall
be women, to be nominated and
elected by affiliated trade unions.
c. Division III shall consist of 22
representatives from the Scottish,
Welsh and English regional
conferences or regional policy
forums. Two, at least one of whom
shall be a woman, shall be elected
from Scotland, Wales and each
English region.
d. Division IV shall consist of ten Labour
local government representatives.
Four each to be elected by the Local
Government Association Labour
group and the Association of Labour
Councillors, at least two each of
whom shall be women; and one
representative of the Convention of
Scottish Local Authorities Labour
group and one from the Welsh Local
Government Association Labour
Group.
e. Division V shall consist of three
members, at least one of whom shall
be a woman, to be nominated and
elected by affiliated socialist societies.
f. Division VI shall consist of four
representatives of BAME Labour, at
least two of whom shall be women.
g. Division VII shall consist of nine
representatives of Commons
members of the PLP, at least four of
whom shall be women.
h. Division VIII shall consist of six
members of the EPLP, at least three of
whom shall be women.
i. Division IX shall consist of one
member to be nominated and elected
by members of Labour Students
j. Division X shall consist of two Labour
members from the House of Lords to
be nominated and elected by Labour
peers
k. Division XI shall consist of one
member from Northern Ireland
Labour Party.
Page 23
 l. Division XII shall consist of one
member from Labour International.

m. Division XIII shall consist of one

member of LGBT Labour.

n. Division XIV shall consist of one

member of the Labour Party Disabled
Members Group

ii. Additionally the four officers of the Welsh

Policy Forum and the four officers of the
Scottish Policy Forum shall be members of
the NPF.

iii. Additionally the Cabinet or Shadow

Cabinet in opposition shall appoint eight
frontbench representatives, at least three
of whom shall be women and the Co-
operative Party shall be entitled to appoint
two representatives, at least one of whom
shall be a woman, as well as the General
Secretary of the Co-operative Party who
shall be ex-officio.

iv. Elections to all Divisions of the NPF shall be

conducted to guidelines laid down by the
NEC. The term of office shall be for two
years. Members of the NEC shall be ex-
officio members of the NPF.

v. No member shall be eligible for

nomination to more than one position to
be filled by election at Party conference in
respect of the NEC, CAC, NCC, Treasurer,
and Auditors, nor serve on more than one
of these bodies at any given time. In the
event of any member being nominated for
more than one such position, the member
shall be requested to select the position
for which she or he desires to remain
nominated. After the selection has been
made the member’s name shall be omitted
from the nominations for all other
positions. Should no selection of position
be made six clear weeks before the
opening of the Party conference, all
nominations made on behalf of the
member concerned shall be deemed null
and void.

vi. Additionally, one representative of all

other socialist societies may attend the
NPF as ex-officio without voting rights
unless otherwise elected to attend in their
own right.

Chapter 4
Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees Page 24
Chapter 5
election practice as defined by the
Representation of the People Act 1983
and subsequent legalisation may be
Selections, rights and considered for selection for public office
at any level without the prior approval of
responsibilities of the NEC.

C. Rights of nominees in the selection process

candidates for elected i. Nominees will be given a code of conduct

public office
which will indicate the rights a potential
candidate has in a selection, based on the
principle that all eligible members shall
To be read in conjunction with selection procedures
have a fair and equal opportunity to seek
set out in the appendices to these rules.
selection.
A right of Labour Party membership includes the
D. Accountability of candidates to Party
opportunity to select candidates for public office in
an area where the NEC determines that a CLP shall i. All nominees shall undertake in writing, in
be established, at every level – local, regional, a form stipulated by the NEC, if selected, to
national and European. Core principles shall apply to abide by Labour Party rules and standing
these selections that will enable members to select orders.
Labour Party candidates representative of our
E. Candidates representative of our society
society who can uphold the highest standards of
probity and integrity in public life. i. The Party will take action in all selections
to encourage a greater level of
Clause I. representation and participation of groups
of people in our society who are currently
General rules for selections for
under-represented in our democratic
public office institutions. In particular, the Party will
seek to select more candidates who reflect
1. The following rules shall be observed in the
the full diversity of our society in terms of
selections of all prospective elected
gender, race, sexual orientation and
representatives:
disability, and to increase working class
A. Rights of members participating in the representation.
selection process
F. Inclusive processes
i. All individual eligible members of the Party
i. Selection processes must enable the
with continuous membership of at least six
inclusion and involvement of all members
months (who reside in the electoral area
on an equal basis and take into account
concerned) are entitled to participate in
the barriers to participation which
selections. Any exceptions to this must be
underrepresented groups may face. One
approved by the NEC.
member one vote (OMOV) shall be
B. Nominating criteria of members standing for adopted in all selections where reasonably
public office practicable including those when an
i. In addition to fulfilling any statutory electoral college is used.
requirements for the relevant public office, G. Alternative Procedures
persons wishing to stand as a Labour
i. For any mayoral selection the NEC may
candidate must have continuous
consider the use of primary elections,
membership of the Party of at least 12
subject to the absolute power of the NEC
months. Where not otherwise prevented
to cancel or amend procedure, and subject
they shall also be a member of a trade
to:
union affiliated to the TUC or considered
by the NEC as a bona fide trade union and a. Procedural guidelines set by the NEC.
contribute to the political fund of that
H. Transparency in procedures
union. Any exceptions to these conditions
must be approved by the NEC. i. Procedural rules and guidelines for these
selections shall endeavour to be clear,
ii. The Labour Party does not tolerate
simple and easy to administer by Party
electoral fraud and no member who has
been found guilty of an illegal or corrupt

Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office Page 25
 units. Support shall be provided to those
administering the selections process.
2. Party units shall act in accordance with guidance
that shall be issued by the NEC in the application
of these rules. The NEC has the authority to
modify these rules and any procedural rules and
guidelines as required to meet particular
circumstances or to further the stated objectives
and principles of these rules. Further the NEC has
the power to impose candidates where it deems
this is required by the circumstances.
Clause II.
Rights and responsibilities of elected
members
1. High quality candidates
A. Labour candidates must meet high standards
as determined from time to time by the NEC.
Support will be made available to candidates
to ensure these standards are achieved and
sustained.
2. Candidate contracts
A. The NEC (or the local Party with NEC approval)
may introduce candidate contracts which may
include the following:
i. Campaigning elements, including specific
objectives for all year round campaigning
and community engagement activity.
Candidates and elected members will be
expected to provide the leadership to
achieve those objectives, and failure may
lead to a candidate’s right to stand being
reassessed, and may be taken into account
when an elected representative is up for
re-selection.
ii. A 2% levy on elected member’s salary/set
personal allowances, including all
payments flowing directly from elected
office and salaried positions in the House
of Lords.
B. Any Candidate Contract must take account of
Party policy and current legislation in respect
of equal opportunities.
3. Members of the European and Westminster
Parliaments
A. General.
i. Labour MPs and MEPs are expected to
meet the highest standards of probity and
to take a lead in the Party’s campaigning
4. Combined Authority Mayors and Police
and community engagement work both
Commissioners
locally and nationally.
Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office
ii. All Labour MPs shall be members of the
Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and play
their part in its work.
iii. All Labour MEPs shall be members of the
European Parliamentary Labour Party
(EPLP) and play their part in its work.
iv. Every Labour MP and MEP must be a
member of a trade union
B. The PLP will operate under standing orders,
which must be endorsed by the NEC:
i. There shall be a meeting of the PLP each
week when the House is in session, which
shall receive regular reports and briefings
from the Cabinet when in Government and
Shadow Cabinet in opposition.
ii. Immediately after the Party has secured a
majority at a General Election a meeting of
the PLP shall be held to discuss priorities
for the Queen's Speech.
iii. In the case of a hung parliament the NEC
and PLP should be consulted on any
positions taken by the Party Leadership.
iv. There shall be a Parliamentary Committee
elected by the PLP, in accordance with PLP
Standing Orders, when the Party is in
Government and in Opposition.
v. There shall be a Chair of the PLP, elected
by the PLP in accordance with PLP
Standing Orders.
vi. The Parliamentary Committee shall be the
executive of the PLP, chaired by the PLP
Chair, and will meet each week when the
House is in session.
vii. The Parliamentary Committee shall be part
of the joint meeting to decide which items
from the Party programme shall be
included in the manifesto, which shall be
discussed by the NEC prior to every
general election.
viii. The Chair of the PLP shall have the right to
attend meetings of the Shadow Cabinet
and meetings of political Cabinet in
Government. And in addition, the General
Secretary of the Party, Leader of the EPLP,
and the Leader of the LGA Labour Group
shall have the right to attend meetings of
the political Cabinet and political Shadow
Cabinet in accordance with PLP Standing
Orders.
Page 26
 A. Labour Combined Authority Mayors (CAMs)
and Police Commissioners (PCCs) are
expected to meet the highest standards of
probity and to take a lead in the Party’s
campaigning and community engagement
work both locally and nationally.
B. CAMs and PCCs will work closely with their
respective national or regional office to
maintain regular contact with Labour Party
organisations and members in the areas
which they represent, including but not
limited to regular reports to CLPs, Labour
Groups and affiliates. At the discretion of the
RD(GS), CAMs and PCCs may be asked to give
a report to Labour’s national and regional
conferences or specially convened annual
meetings organised by the regional office.
C. CAMs and PCCs shall be responsible to the
NEC as an elected representative of the
Labour Party.
D. Any appointments in the gift of Labour CAMs
and PCCs should give fair consideration to
Labour’s commitment to increase diversity
and representation for under-represented
people.
Clause III.
Selection of local government
candidates
1. The NEC, Scottish Executive Committee and
Welsh Executive Committee shall issue
procedural rules and guidelines for the selection
of local government candidates. Local Campaign
Forums, established in accordance with Chapter
12 of these rules, shall be responsible for
implementing these guidelines in line with the
rules detailed in Clause I.1 above and following.
Local Campaign Forums shall agree their
procedures with the appropriate RD(GS) or other
designated officer approved by the NEC.
2. All nominees must fulfil the criteria to stand as a
prospective local government candidate detailed
in Clause I.1.B above. In addition, no person who
is disqualified as a parliamentary candidate
under the constitutional rules of the Party, or
under the decision of Party conference, shall be
nominated or selected as a candidate for any
local government election.
3. All nominees shall undertake, in writing, in a form
stipulated by the NEC, if elected, to accept and
comply with the standing orders of the
appropriate Labour group. All nominees, if
elected, shall be members of the national
Association of Labour Councillors.
Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office
4. The Local Campaign Forum shall determine and
endorse a panel of prospective local government
candidates in accordance with the procedural
guidelines approved by the NEC. The Local
Campaign Forum shall make the panel details
available to the branches covering electoral areas
where selections are due to take place.
5. Individual paid-up members of the Party, resident
in the electoral area where the selection is taking
place and a member for at least six months at a
date determined by the Local Campaign Forum,
will be invited to participate in the process of
shortlisting and selection of their local
government candidate(s).
6. The shortlisting and selection of candidates shall
consist of a vote, by eliminating ballot, of all
eligible individual members of the electoral ward/
division on the basis of one member one vote.
7. Any disputes arising out of the non-endorsement
of nominees onto the panel of prospective local
government candidates shall be referred to the
appropriate regional appeals board. Disputes
arising over the shortlisting or selection meeting
shall be submitted to the appropriate Local
Campaign Forum. The NEC shall issue guidelines
to the relevant Party units and any appellant for
dealing with any disputed matter.
8. Any exceptions to rules 1-7 above can only be
made with the approval of the NEC or an officer
exercising the powers given to them by the NEC.
Clause IV.
Selection of Westminster
parliamentary candidates
1. The NEC, Scottish and Welsh Executive
Committees shall issue procedural rules and
guidelines and the timetable for the selection of
candidates for Westminster Parliament elections.
The Scottish and Welsh Executive Committees will
be responsible for administering the selection of
Westminster Parliamentary Candidates in
Scotland and Wales subject to rules detailed in 2-
11 below. CLPs shall be responsible for
implementing these guidelines in line with the
rules detailed in Clause I.1 above and following.
CLPs must agree their procedures and timetable
with the appropriate RD(GS) or other designated
officer approved by the NEC.
Page 27
2. All nominees must fulfil the criteria to stand as a
parliamentary candidate detailed in Clause I.1.B
above. In addition, no person who has been
disqualified as a local government candidate
under the rules of the Party or by the decision of
Party conference shall be eligible for nomination
or selection as a parliamentary candidate.
Members of the European Parliament, Members
of the Scottish parliament and Members of the
National Assembly for Wales may seek
nomination as Labour candidates for the
Westminster Parliament but only with the
express permission of the NEC whose decision
shall be final.
3. All nominees shall undertake, if elected, to accept
and comply with the standing orders of the PLP.
4. The NEC may establish a national parliamentary
panel of candidates in the selection procedure
appended to these rules. Nominees do not have
to be members of any national parliamentary
panel to seek selection. Where a national panel is
established by the NEC then candidates
recommended by nationally affiliated
organisations through their own procedures shall
automatically be included on the national panel
subject to agreement between the NEC and the
affiliate that their procedures set similar criteria
for accreditation.
5. If a CLP is represented in Parliament by a
member of the PLP:
A. If the sitting MP wishes to stand for re-
election, a trigger ballot will be carried out
through Party units and affiliates according to
NEC guidelines. If the MP wins the trigger
ballot he/ she will, subject to NEC
endorsement, be selected as the CLP’s
prospective parliamentary candidate.
B. If the MP fails to win the trigger ballot, he/ she
shall be eligible for nomination for selection
as the prospective parliamentary candidate,
and s/he shall be included in the shortlist of
candidates from whom the selection shall be
made.
C. If the said MP is not selected as the
prospective parliamentary candidate s/he
shall have the right of appeal to the NEC. The
appeal can only be made on the grounds that
the procedures laid down in the rules and the
general provisions of the constitution, rules
and standing orders have not been properly
carried out. The appeal must be received by
the NEC by the date on which they consider
endorsement of the parliamentary candidate
for the constituency.
Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office
D. When there is a formal announcement of a
royal proclamation to dissolve Parliament
before the trigger ballot or the constituency
selection meeting(s) have been held, the
provisions of this clause (other than this
paragraph) shall be suspended and the said
MP shall be reselected as the prospective
parliamentary candidate, subject to NEC
endorsement.
E. If the MP has intimated her or his intention to
retire, the provisions of this clause shall not
apply.
6. In all circumstances (i.e. where there is no MP,
where the MP has announced s/he is retiring or
where the MP is putting themselves forward for
re-selection but has failed to win the trigger
ballot) the CLP Shortlisting Committee shall draw
up a shortlist of interested candidates to present
to all members of the CLP who are eligible to vote
in accordance with Clause I.1.A above.
7. The selection of candidates shall consist of a vote,
by eliminating ballot, of all eligible individual
members of the constituency on the basis of one
member one vote.
8. NEC Endorsement
A. The selection of a parliamentary candidate
shall not be regarded as completed until the
name of the member selected has been
placed before a meeting of the NEC and her
or his selection has been endorsed. Until such
endorsement has been received the member
shall not be introduced to the public as a
prospective candidate. Where successful
candidates are not members of the national
recommended panel or if in the case of a
sitting MP a referral from the Whips office is
received, there should, however, be an
endorsement interview in each case before a
recommendation is made to the NEC.
B. If the NEC is satisfied that there is prima facie
evidence of a breach of rules by an individual,
the NEC shall have the right after such
investigations and interviews with the
individual as the NEC shall consider
reasonably practicable and appropriate to
decline to endorse or, where already
endorsed, rescind endorsement of such
individual as a prospective parliamentary
candidate.
Page 28
9. A CLP, having completed the selection of its
prospective parliamentary candidate according to
these rules, shall accept responsibility for the
election expenses of the candidate so selected.
Acceptance of such financial responsibility shall
become binding on the CLP concerned upon NEC
endorsement of the candidature.
10. The normal procedure may be dispensed with by
the NEC where no valid nominations are received,
or when an emergency arises, or when the NEC
are of the opinion that the interests of the Party
would be best served by the suspension of the
procedures issued by the NEC.
11. Disputes arising out of the selection procedure
shall be considered by an officer appointed by
the NEC who shall report to them. The NEC’s
decision on that report shall be final and binding
on all parties for all purposes.
12. Any exceptions to rules 1-11 above can only be
made with the approval of the NEC or an officer
exercising the powers given to them by the NEC.
Clause V.
Selection of European parliamentary
candidates
1. The NEC shall issue procedural guidelines and the
timetable for the selection of candidates for
European elections. Regional boards and Scottish
and Welsh executives shall be responsible for
implementing these guidelines in line with the
rules detailed in Clause I.1.B above and following.
Regional/ national bodies must agree their
procedures and timetable with a designated
officer approved by the NEC.
2. All nominees must fulfil the criteria to stand as a
European parliamentary candidate detailed in
Clause I.1.B above. In addition, no person who
has been disqualified as a local government
candidate or Westminster parliamentary
candidate under the rules of the Party or by the
decision of Party conference will be eligible for
nomination or selection as a parliamentary
candidate.
3. All nominees shall undertake, if elected, to accept
and comply with the standing orders of the EPLP.
Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office
4. The NEC may establish a European parliamentary
panel of candidates. Training will be made
available to interested nominees and targeted
action will be taken to increase the
representation of women, ethnic minority and
disabled members and those from manual and
clerical backgrounds on the national panel. Those
members who achieve the minimum standards
for accreditation as determined by the NEC
through an assessment process will be included
on the parliamentary panel. Candidates
recommended by nationally affiliated
organisations through their own processes shall
automatically be included on the parliamentary
panel subject to agreement between the NEC and
the affiliate that their process sets similar criteria
for accreditation.
5. The regional boards/ national executives shall
appoint a selections board representative of local
CLPs and affiliated organisations as determined
by the NEC. This selections board will administer
the processes for the reselection of Members of
European Parliament (MEPs) by means of a ballot
of affiliated organisations and CLPs. MEPS who
receive the support of at least 50% of the
affiliated organisations/ CLPs casting votes in
such a ballot will comprise the shortlist of re-
selected MEPs. Any MEPs who fail to receive 50%
support will have the same rights to nomination
as other members. The selections board will
subsequently seek nominations and determine a
panel of new candidates for the remaining
regional list seats in the region (or Scotland and
Wales) in accordance with the procedural
guidelines approved by the NEC.
6. The selections board shall present the list of re-
selected MEPs and the list of interested new
candidates for the remaining regional list seats to
all members in the regional/ national electoral
area who are eligible to vote in accordance with
Clause I.1.A above.
7. All eligible individual members will determine by
a postal ballot (by simple preference voting), the
ranking of the candidates. This would establish
the order for each of the lists (the re-selected
MEPs and the candidates for the remaining
regional list seats).
8. The selection of a European parliamentary
candidate shall not be regarded as completed
until the name of the member selected has been
placed before a meeting of the NEC and her or
his selection has been endorsed. Until such
endorsement has been received the member
shall not be introduced to the public as a
prospective candidate.
Page 29
9. A region (or Scotland and Wales), having 4. Any exceptions to rules 1–3 above can only be
completed the selection of its prospective made with the approval of the NEC or an officer
European parliamentary candidate according to exercising the powers given to them by the NEC.
these rules, shall accept responsibility for the
election expenses of the candidate so selected.
Acceptance of such financial responsibility shall
become binding on the region/ nation concerned
upon NEC endorsement of the candidature.

10. The normal procedure may be dispensed with by

the NEC where no valid nominations are received,
or when an emergency arises, or when the NEC
are of the opinion that the interests of the Party
would be best served by the suspension of the
procedures issued by the NEC.

11. Disputes arising out of the selection procedure

shall be considered by an officer appointed by
the NEC who shall report to them. The NEC’s
decision on that report shall be final and binding
on all parties for all purposes.

12. Any exceptions to rules 1-11 above can only be

made with the approval of the NEC or an officer
exercising the powers given to them by the NEC.

Clause VI.
Selection of Candidates for devolved
institutions
1. With respect to selections for candidates for the
Scottish Parliament or National Assembly of
Wales, the Scottish and Welsh Executive
Committees shall draw up a detailed procedural
document, based on principles detailed in Clause
I and Clause IV above.

2. The NEC shall also draw up detailed procedural

guidance with respect to selections for the
Greater London Authority or other such regional
body in England, based on principles detailed in
Clause I above. Regional selections boards,
representative of the given area and reflecting a
balance of CLPs and affiliates will administer the
process. Regional/ national bodies must agree
their procedures and timetable with a designated
officer approved by the NEC.

3. The NEC, Scottish Executive Committee and

Welsh Executive Committee shall also draw up
detailed procedural guidance with respect to
selections for directly elected leaders of regional
administrations and local authorities based on
principles detailed in Clause I above. Regional (or
Scottish or Welsh) selections board,
representative of the given area and reflecting a
balance of CLPs and affiliates, will also administer
these processes.

Chapter 5
Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office Page 30
Chapter 6
Disciplinary rules
Clause I.
National action by the Party
1. The NEC shall take such disciplinary measures as
it deems necessary to ensure that all Party
members and officers conform to the
constitution, rules and standing orders of the
Party.
Such powers shall include:
A. In relation to any alleged breach of the
constitution, rules or standing orders of the
Party by an individual member or members of
the Party, the NEC may, pending the final
outcome of any investigation and charges (if
any), suspend that individual or individuals
from office or representation of the Party
notwithstanding the fact that the individual
concerned has been or may be eligible to be
selected as a candidate in any election or by-
election. The General Secretary or other
national officer shall investigate and report to
the NEC on such investigation. Upon such
report being submitted, the NEC may instruct
the General Secretary or other national officer
to formulate charges against the individual or
individuals concerned and present such
charges to the NCC for determination in
accordance with their rules.
B. In relation to any alleged breach of Labour
group rules and standing orders by a group
member or members, the NEC may, pending
the final outcome of any investigation and
charges (if any), suspend that individual or
individuals from the group in question. The
General Secretary or other national officer
shall investigate and report to the NEC on
such investigation. Upon such report being
submitted, the NEC may instruct the General
Secretary or other national officer to
formulate charges against the individual or
individuals concerned and present such
charges to the NCC for determination in
accordance with their rules.
C. Where in the opinion of the NEC there are
circumstances which might warrant the use of
its powers under sub-clauses A above and B
above, the NEC may issue written warnings to
any individual member of the Party drawing
attention to the conduct which in the opinion
of the NEC is either incompatible with
continued membership of the Party or may be
in, or may lead to, a breach of the
constitution, rules or standing orders of the
Party. The issue of any written warning under
this sub-clause shall not prevent the conduct
that is the subject of such warning being
called into question following any subsequent
exercise by the NEC of its powers under sub-
clauses A above and B above, and both the
fact of the issue of such warning and the
conduct that is the subject of the warning may
be used in the evidence referred to the NCC.
2. When a person applies for re-admission to the
Party following an expulsion by the NCC on
whatever basis or by automatic exclusion under
Chapter 2.4 above of the membership rules, the
application shall be submitted to the NEC for
consideration and decision. Such applications
shall not normally be considered by the NEC until
a minimum of five years has elapsed. The
decision of the NEC shall be binding on the
individual concerned and on the CLP relevant to
the application.
3. A ‘suspension’ of a member whether by the NEC
in pursuance of 1 above or by the NCC in
imposing a disciplinary penalty, unless otherwise
defined by that decision, shall require the
membership rights of the individual member
concerned to be confined to participation in their
own branch meetings, unless the reason for the
suspension in part or in full is their conduct in
party meetings or there are concerns that their
presence at branch meetings may be detrimental
to the Party, and activities as an ordinary member
only and in such ballots of all individual members
as may be prescribed by the NEC. A suspended
member shall not be eligible to seek any office in
the Party, nor shall s/he be eligible for
nomination to any panel of prospective
candidates nor to represent the Party in any
position at any level. The member concerned will
not be eligible to attend any CLP meeting other
than to fulfil the requirement to participate in
ballots.

Chapter 6
Disciplinary rules Page 31
Clause II.
Action by CLPs
1. It shall be the duty of the General Meeting of a
CLP to take all necessary steps to enforce the
constitution, standing orders and rules of the
Party within its constituency and to safeguard the
programme, policy and principles of the Party
within its constituency. A CLP shall take such
action as it deems necessary for such purposes in
accordance with the following provisions:
A. Any complaint or allegation made of breach of
the constitution, rules or standing orders of
the Party shall be made in writing to the
secretary of the CLP either by a Party branch
or by an organisation affiliated to that Party,
or by a member of the CLP. Such complaint or
allegation shall state that the complainant
wishes disciplinary action to be considered.
B. Upon such complaint being made, the
secretary shall refer it to the Executive
Committee of the CLP who shall decide by
resolution whether the complaint calls for
investigation.
C. Any resolution of the Executive Committee
shall be reported to the General Meeting
which shall decide whether to authorise the
recommended investigation.
D. Where there is not an Executive Committee in
place within the CLP, the matter shall be
referred direct to the General Meeting which
shall decide by resolution whether the
complaint calls for investigation.
E. Any person proposed to be the subject of
such an investigation shall reside or be
registered as an elector within the
constituency or shall have been resident or
registered as an elector within the
constituency at the time of the actions subject
to complaint. If that person is a member of
the General Meeting and/or Executive
Committee s/he shall have full rights to
participate and vote in the meetings of the
committee of which s/he is a member when
this matter is considered.
F. The secretary shall immediately following any
such resolution contact the regional office of
the Party to ensure the correct
implementation of the disciplinary procedures
at all stages, including the formulation of any
charges.
Chapter 6
Disciplinary rules
G. Where the General Meeting so authorises an
investigation the Executive Committee shall
appoint three of its members to act as
investigators. The investigators may be agreed
by the original Executive Committee meeting,
subject to subsequent endorsement by the
General Meeting. None of these investigators
shall be a party to or a subject of the original
complaint.
H. The investigators shall conduct their
investigation of the complaint(s) or
allegation(s) in such a manner as they see fit,
including the receipt of written evidence from
the complainant(s), those complained against
and from other Party members.
I. The investigators shall decide whether or not
a prima facie case can be made out and, if so,
shall formulate a charge or charges and shall
report to the General Meeting. Their report to
the General Meeting shall be limited to
whether they have found a prima facie case
and, if so, the proposed charge or charges.
The charge must specify which rule(s) of the
Party have been breached. The General
Meeting shall decide at this stage which of the
proposed charges, if any, are to be preferred.
J. None of the investigators shall participate in
or vote at the General Meeting at this stage,
except that one member of the investigating
team only shall present the report of the
investigators and answer questions thereon
but still not vote.
K. If the General Meeting decides that a charge
or charges should be preferred, it shall
instruct the investigators to prefer these
charges and accompanying evidence together
with, if so decided, a recommendation for
disciplinary action. The investigators shall
appoint one of their number to act as ‘the
presenter’ of the case which shall be preferred
to the NCC of the Party for determination. All
the evidence and documentation to be relied
on in presenting the case must accompany
the charges to be preferred.
Page 32
 L. The charges shall be forwarded to the disciplinary action to be imposed shall be
secretary of the NCC at the Head Office of the final.
Party who shall liaise with the presenter and
M. Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases
the chair of the NCC to arrange for the case to
brought before the NCC is appendix 6 at the
be brought before the committee or a panel
rear of the Party’s rule book, or can be
thereof and for dates and venues for a
obtained from the Governance and Legal Unit
hearing if appropriate. The NCC shall
at Head Office. The investigation team should
determine the charges, by hearing or
familiarise itself with the content of the
otherwise and having regard to their
document before commencing their
procedural guidelines. The decision of the
investigation.
NCC as to whether in its opinion there is a
case to answer, or whether in its opinion the
charges are proved or not proved, and any

Chapter 6
Disciplinary rules Page 33
RULES FOR
UNITS OF PARTY
ORGANISATION
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
To be read in conjunction with the appendices to
these rules and with particular regard to the conduct
of meetings contained therein.
Clause I.
Name
1. The { } Constituency Labour Party, hereinafter
named ‘this CLP’
Clause II.
Aims and values
1. National
A. The aims and values of the Labour Party as
outlined in Chapter 1 Clause IV above shall
apply to this CLP.
2. Constituency
A. To unite the forces of Labour within the
constituency and to ensure the establishment
of, and to keep in active operation an
appropriate organisation and structure, which
shall normally include branches, as approved
by the NEC.
B. To secure the return of Labour
representatives to Parliament and local
government bodies, by promoting the policies
and principles of the Party throughout the
constituency with a view to increasing the
Party’s influence within the local community
and securing support and membership from
it.
C. To promote the policies of the Party within the
constituency by formulating a development
action plan for the Party in the area and to
ensure its adoption and implementation by all
Party units.
D. To provide the opportunity for all individual
members of the Party within the constituency
to contribute to the development of the aims
and policies by ensuring that a full range of
Party activities are available to them, including
local policy forums, and that they may
participate fully in discussion to broaden the
political education of members of the Party
and to increase their influence over the
formulation of the Party programme.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
E. To establish local policy forums, possibly in
co-operation with neighbouring CLPs, as
authorised by and with the support of the
appropriate RD(GS) operating to guidelines
produced by the NEC. The constitution of the
Party places an obligation on CLPs to work in
pursuit of our aims with trade unions, co-
operative societies and other affiliated
organisations, and it must consult its
members, elected representatives, affiliated
organisations, and, where practicable, the
wider community in which it is based on policy
making initiatives which are to be forwarded
for consideration as part of the national policy
making process.
Clause III.
Affiliated organisations
1. Organisations may affiliate to the Party at
constituency level if they fall within the following
categories:
A. trade unions or branches thereof affiliated to
the Trades Union Congress or considered by
the NEC to be bona fide trade unions affiliated
to the Party nationally. Where provided by the
structure of an affiliated organisation, sub-
sections of branches, retired member
sections/associations may affiliate separately
at the discretion of the RD(GS) of the Party in
agreement with the appropriate authority of
the affiliated trade union
B. co-operative societies, branches of the
Cooperative Party and other co-operative
organisations
C. branches of those socialist societies affiliated
to the Party nationally
D. other organisations or branches thereof
which in the opinion of the NEC are deemed
eligible for affiliation.
2. Each affiliated organisation must: accept the
programme, principles and policy of the Party;
agree to conform to the constitution, rules and
standing orders of the Party; have members who
are registered as electors within the constituency.
Clause IV.
Affiliation fees
1. Affiliation fees and contributions payable to this
CLP shall be:
Page 35
 A. trade unions, branches of trade unions,
retired member sections/associations of trade
unions, branches of socialist societies and
other organisations; 6p per annum per
member resident or registered as an elector
within the constituency, with a minimum
payment of £6 per branch
B. co-operative societies and other cooperative
organisations on the basis agreed between
this CLP and the respective co-operative
organisation, though as a minimum on the
same basis as other affiliated organisations
C. the Co-operative Party in accordance with the
agreement between the Labour Party and the
Co-operative Union Limited currently in force
D. all affiliation fees shall be paid not later than
31 December of the relevant year.
Clause V.
Individual membership
1. The conditions of membership for, method of
enrolment of, and level of subscription payable
by individual members of the Party within this
constituency shall be as laid down in the
membership rules of the Party in Chapter 2 .
2. The constitutional rights of individual members of
the Party within this constituency shall operate
only where they are registered as electors and
reside or, exceptionally if they are not eligible to
be registered to vote, in which they reside only.
3. Women members in this CLP shall, if they so
desire, be organised into a women’s forum acting
in accordance with regulations sanctioned by the
NEC and on boundaries approved by the RD(GS).
4. Individual members of the Party between14 years
and 26 years of age inclusive shall, if they so
desire, be organised in branches of Young Labour
acting in accordance with regulations sanctioned
by the NEC and on boundaries approved by the
RD(GS).
Clause VI.
Method of organisation
1. General
A. The CLP may adopt any method of
organisation currently approved by the NEC.
B. Methods of organisation include delegate
structures and structures based on ‘all
member meetings’.
C. In any structure there must be provision for a
general meeting (GM) either of all members or
delegates.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
D. In addition this CLP may propose new
methods of organisation to the RD(GS). The
General Meeting may seek approval from the
NEC to pilot new methods of organisation to
meet its objectives as part of an agreed
development plan that continues to meet this
CLP’s constitutional obligations.
E. Any method of organisation shall generally
include branches on such basis as decided by
the General Meeting and approved by the
NEC. Branch boundaries shall as far as
possible follow local government boundaries.
F. A branch established in accordance with this
rule shall consist only of those individual
members of the Party within this CLP who
reside and are registered as electors within
the area covered by the branch or,
exceptionally if they are not eligible to be
registered to vote, in which they reside only.
G. Branches shall operate in accordance with the
rules for Party branches and any other
regulations approved by the NEC. In
particular, a branch shall maintain the
necessary machinery for elections within its
area. A branch may undertake other activities
to promote the Party in its area and the
involvement of its individual members in line
with the development action plan agreed for
this CLP. The public activities of a branch shall
be approved by the Executive Committee of
this CLP.
H. Where the General Meeting considers it
desirable there may be established a
coordinating organisation covering more than
one branch subject to the approval of the
regional office.
2. There may be established workplace branches
covering one or more CLPs, acting in accordance
with rules sanctioned by the NEC.
3. There may be established a women’s forum to co-
ordinate work among women members, acting in
accordance with the rules for women’s forums
and any other regulations approved by the NEC
and on boundaries approved by the NEC.
4. There may be established an ethnic minorities
forum to co-ordinate work among BAME
members, acting in accordance with the rules for
ethnic minorities forums and any other
regulations approved by the NEC and on
boundaries approved by the NEC.
5. There may be established other such forums
among common interests groups acting in
accordance with the rules for these forums and
any other regulations approved by the NEC and
on boundaries approved by the NEC.
Page 36
6. There shall be established a Campaign
Committee to co-ordinate the public activity of
this CLP.
A. The Campaign Committee, which comprise
campaign organisers and other members as
appropriate. The chair and treasurer of this
CLP and the Member of Parliament and/ or
the parliamentary candidate and the
parliamentary agent, shall be ex-officio
members of the Campaign Committee.
B. The Campaign Committee shall elect a
campaign co-ordinator who shall: co-ordinate
constituency-wide campaigns; liaise with Head
Office and either Scottish Labour, Welsh
Labour or their English regional office and
with affiliated organisations, as the case may
be, in the promotion of the Party’s campaigns;
and liaise with other election agents as
appropriate over the election campaign
3. The General Meeting shall, but only with the
strategy for elections and referenda taking
place wholly or partly within the area of this
CLP.
C. Where the campaign co-ordinator is not the
election agent, the Campaign Committee shall
ensure that an election agent is appointed to
be responsible for all local elections within the
area of this CLP. Agents shall liaise with other
agents within the local authority area in order
to ensure a unified and co-ordinated
campaign. For national elections, the
committee should seek to appoint an election
agent at the earliest opportunity in
consultation with the prospective candidate
and appropriate RD(GS) and this appointment
shall be subject to the approval of the NEC.
Any member not otherwise disbarred from
being an election agent may be considered for
appointment.
Clause VII.
Management
1. The management of this CLP shall be in the
hands of an Executive Committee which shall be
appointed by and report to an Annual General
Meeting of this CLP and to other such meetings
as required by the CLP rules and procedures.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
2. This CLP adopts the rules and procedures for
CLPs and branches set out in the appendix to
these rules and such amendments thereto as
may be agreed by Party conference or made by
the NEC in accordance with the powers conferred
upon it under Chapter 1 Clause X of the
constitutional rules. This CLP shall have power to
make changes to these rules, subject to the
specific prior approval in writing of the NEC,
Scottish or Welsh Executive Committees and
providing that such changes do not contravene
the spirit and intention of the rules as adopted by
Party conference or alter the Party objects, basis
or conditions of affiliated and individual
membership, or vary the procedure for the
selection of parliamentary candidates (other than
as provided for in the rules) or effect a change in
the relationship of this CLP with the national
Party.
specific prior approval in writing of the NEC, have
the power to enter into property-related
transactions on behalf of the CLP. Such power
may also be exercised by the Executive
Committee, or by officers of the General Meeting,
if so authorised by the General Meeting.
A. NEC approval will be conditional in all cases
upon legal title to the property being vested in
Labour Party Nominees Limited as Trustee for
the relevant Constituency Labour Party or in
such other Trustee for the relevant
Constituency Labour Party as the NEC may
appoint.
B. The General Meeting and the Executive
Committee shall procure that all legal title to
property leasehold and freehold presently
held for this CLP shall forthwith be transferred
to Labour Party Nominees Limited to be held
by it as Trustee for the relevant Constituency
Labour Party upon the standard terms of
Trust from time to time approved by the NEC.
Page 37
 C. Every CLP and BLP of the Party and as a pre-
condition to continued membership thereto
shall with effect from forthwith do and
execute such acts and deeds to transfer the
beneficial ownership of their respective
freehold and leasehold properties legal title to
which is presently held either by individuals or
by Labour Party Nominees Limited to and for
the benefit of The Labour Party subject only to
the CLPs’ and BLPs’ existing rights of
occupation thereof and to their continued
receipt of all rents and profits there from and
the right to license and to lease the said
properties from time to time subject to the
prior written consent of The NEC but subject
to the CLPs’ and BLPs’ continuing respective
obligations in respect of any borrowings
secured on such properties. (note- For clarity
this rule is repeated in rules for branches)
4. The General Meeting shall, but only with the
specific prior approval in writing of the NEC and
on such terms and conditions as shall be
approved by the NEC, have the power to employ
staff on behalf of the CLP. Such power may also
be exercised by the Executive Committee or by
officers of the General Meeting if so authorised
by the General Meeting. In all such
circumstances, the primary responsibility for
meeting financial and other obligations in respect
of such employees shall be borne by this CLP.
Clause VIII.
Officers
1. The officers of this CLP, the Executive Committee,
and two auditors shall be elected at the annual
general meeting of this CLP and shall continue in
office until replaced or re-appointed.
2. The Executive Officers of this CLP shall be; chair,
vice-chair, vice-chair/ membership, secretary,
treasurer, women’s officer. At least three of these
officers shall be women. This CLP may, with the
approval of the NEC add other Executive Officer
posts drawn from amongst its Coordinator roles
subject to the gender quota being amended
appropriately.
3. The Chair shall also be the deputy treasurer to be
notified to the Electoral Commission. In
exceptional circumstances, and with the prior
approval of the General Secretary, a different
person may be appointed.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
4. In addition this CLP may elect coordinators to
lead on specific areas of responsibility including
community involvement, trade union liaison,
membership recruitment and retention, diversity
(CLPs may consider splitting this responsibility
between two or more people – e.g. BAME,
Disability, Youth, LGBT), fundraising, political
education, information technology etc. The
Women’s Coordinator, if appointed, shall be a
woman. These coordinators shall be encouraged
to attend Executive Committee Meetings to
report on their work and share expertise with
colleagues but shall not be voting members
unless elected to the Executive Committee as
individuals.
5. The team of officers and coordinators, together
with the parliamentary candidate and/or member
of Parliament and the campaign coordinator,
shall provide a strategic lead for the development
of the Party in the constituency.
6. The Executive Committee shall consist of the
Executive Officers and { } members upon such
proportionate basis of the whole membership as
this CLP may decide, subject to the approval of
the NEC.
7. The parliamentary election agent may also attend
Executive Committee meetings.
8. Where a constituency plan agreement has been
entered into by this CLP and an organisation
affiliated to the Party nationally and approved by
the NEC, the affiliated organisation concerned
may appoint a member of this CLP to the
Executive Committee to represent their interest:
this member shall be an ex-officio member with
voting powers of both executive and General
Meetings.
9. The Executive Committee shall meet as required
and be responsible for reviewing the
implementation of the development action plan
and supervising the work of the branches and
other Party units in the constituency. The
Executive Committee shall also deal with as much
of the routine business of this CLP as possible to
ensure that the General Meeting can devote its
time to the discussion of policy and Party
objectives for the constituency.
10. The treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring
this CLP meets its legal and financial
responsibilities under the Political Parties,
Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in respect of
donation reporting, the filing of accounts and, if
applicable, the auditing of accounts, and shall be
the registered treasurer of the accounting unit, as
notified by Party Head Office to the Electoral
Commission.
Page 38
11. This CLP Secretary shall notify Party Head Office
immediately in the event of the resignation or
replacement of the treasurer or the deputy
treasurer, so that the Party can meet its statutory
responsibility to inform the Electoral Commission
of any such changes.
12. It shall be a requirement of their office that the
treasurer and the parliamentary election agent
undertake such training as deemed desirable by
the NEC.
Clause IX.
The General Meeting
1. Annual Meetings
A. The annual meeting of this CLP shall be held
in { } of each year or, in the event of such
meeting not being held in that month for any
reason, as soon thereafter as possible. The
annual meeting should not normally be held
before May in any year.
B. Affiliation fees due to this CLP for the previous
year ended 31 December must have been
paid to this CLP a clear 35 days before the
date of the annual meeting.
C. New affiliations accepted at least 60 days
prior to the AGM in the current year shall have
all rights associated with attendance at the
AGM.
D. Twenty eight days’ notice of an annual
meeting shall be given to all eligible affiliated
organisations and Party units.
E. Seven days’ notice of an annual meeting shall
be given to voting members entitled to attend.
2. Special Meetings
A. Special General Meetings may be called at the
discretion of the Executive Committee and
shall be called on the written request of at
least one third of the affiliated organisations
and Party units which are or would be entitled
to send delegates to this CLP under a delegate
structure.
B. Seven days’ notice of a special meeting shall
be given to voting members entitled to attend
except in cases of emergency, when only
business of immediate importance shall be
transacted.
3. Ordinary General Meetings shall be held at such
intervals as laid down in the standing orders of
this CLP or as may be determined by resolution
of the General Meeting.
4. Seven days’ notice of General Meetings shall be
given to voting members entitled to attend.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
5. A notice calling an annual, special or ordinary
General Meeting shall state as far as possible the
business to be transacted.
6. Any notice required to be given under these rules
shall be in writing which may include electronic
communication. Notices to be sent to affiliated
organisations and Party units shall be addressed
to the secretary thereof.
7. Finance
A. Following each annual meeting of this CLP the
secretary shall forward to the General
Secretary a copy of this CLP’s constituency
annual report, including the annual statement
of accounts and such other information as
may be requested by the NEC in the format
required and in compliance with this CLP’s
legal and financial responsibilities under the
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums
Act 2000.
B. Where required by PPERA 2000, the annual
statement of accounts must be presented to
and approved by a general meeting in the first
quarter of the year following the year in
question. The annual statement of accounts
must be forwarded to the Electoral
Commission by 30 April of the year following
the year in question.
Clause X.
The Party Conference
1. Subject to the conditions laid down in the rules of
Party conference and the constitutional rules of
the Party, this CLP may appoint to any Party
conference convened under Clause VI of the
constitutional rules of the Party, one delegate for
the first 749 eligible members, or part thereof,
and a further delegate for each additional 250
eligible members, or part thereof. Eligible
members shall be defined as those listed by the
Party as members of this CLP at 31 December in
the previous year.
2. When appointing their delegate(s) this CLP shall
seek to increase the representation of women at
conference, by ensuring that at least every
second delegate shall be a woman; where only
one delegate is appointed this must be a woman
at least in every other year.
3. Where the individual women’s membership
within this CLP is 100 or more, an additional
woman delegate may be appointed.
4. Where the individual Young Labour membership
within this CLP is 30 or more, an additional
delegate under the age of 27 may be appointed.
Page 39
5. This CLP may appoint a delegate in addition to its
above entitlement if one of its duly appointed
delegates is the national treasurer, a member of
the NEC, member of the Conference
Arrangements Committee, or a member of the
NCC due for re-election that year.
Clause XI.
Duties of the General Meeting
1. The general provisions of the constitution, rules
and standing orders of the Party shall apply to
this CLP and the General Meeting has a duty to
act within and uphold such provisions.
2. The General Meeting shall be responsible for
establishing objectives for this CLP in the
constituency through political debate and policy
discussion, setting targets for development of
CLP organisation and campaigning in the area
and promoting links with the wider community.
3. In particular this CLP is required to submit in the
fourth quarter of each year a development plan
in a format approved by the NEC for the
constituency for the coming year. The plan shall
be submitted to the appropriate regional office
(or Scottish or Welsh national office).
4. It shall be the duty of the General Meeting of this
CLP to ensure that at least 50 per cent of their
delegates to other Party bodies (where delegate
entitlement is more than one) shall be women.
5. This CLP and units of this CLP shall not enter into
affiliation with or give support, financially or
otherwise, to any political party or organisation
(or ancillary or subsidiary body thereto) declared
by Party conference or by the NEC in pursuance
of conference decisions to be ineligible for
affiliation to the Party. Nor shall they give any
such support to individuals ineligible for
membership of the Party.
6. This CLP shall co-operate with the NEC of the
Party in conducting a ballot of all eligible
individual members for the selection of
parliamentary candidates, the election of the
leader and deputy leader of the Party, the
national treasurer and auditors, and the
appropriate sections of the NEC, and NCC. Such
ballots to be conducted in accordance with
guidelines laid down by the NEC and subject to
the provisions of Chapter 4.
7. In the event of this CLP being dissolved or ceasing
to exist for any reason, its assets (after payment
of outstanding liabilities) shall be transferred to
the NEC of the Party.
Chapter 7
Rules for CLPs
8. This CLP shall co-operate fully with the NEC in
respect of its legal and financial obligations under
the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums
Act 2000. Should this CLP fail to co-operate with
the Party with regard to its obligations under the
Act, the NEC will not hesitate to take appropriate
disciplinary action against individual members
and/or suspend this CLP.
Clause XII.
Disciplinary
1. It shall be the duty of the General Meeting of this
CLP to take all necessary steps to enforce the
constitution, standing orders and rules of the
Party within this constituency and to safeguard
the programme, policy and principles of the Party
within this constituency. This CLP shall take such
action as it deems necessary for such purposes in
accordance with the provisions laid out in the
disciplinary rules, contained in Chapter 6 above.
Clause XIII.
Parliamentary candidates
1. The Party’s parliamentary candidate for this
constituency shall be selected in accordance with
the rules for selection of parliamentary
candidates laid down in Chapter 5 and in the
selection guidelines appended thereto, along with
any other regulations approved by the NEC.
Clause XIV.
Local government candidates
1. Local government candidates shall be selected in
accordance with the rules for selection of local
government candidates laid down in Chapter 5
and in the selection guidelines appended thereto
along with any other regulations approved by the
NEC.
Clause XV.
Amendment to rules
1. These rules, or any part thereof, may be
amended, altered or additions made thereto by
resolution carried at an Annual General Meeting
by a vote of two thirds of delegates present,
subject to the approval of the NEC under Clause
VII.2 above. The provisions of the model
procedural rules for Party meetings shall apply to
this CLP with such local additions and
modifications as may be approved by the RD(GS)
of the Party on behalf of the NEC.
Page 40
Chapter 8
Rules for branches
Clause I.
Name
The { } Branch of the { } Constituency Labour Party
(this branch)
Clause II.
Objects
1. The objects of this branch shall be to provide an
opportunity for members to participate in the
activities of the Party within its area with the
approval of the Executive Committee of the CLP
and in line with its agreed development action
plan; to play their part in the Party’s policy-
making processes; to work together to run
effective election and issue-based campaigns; to
maximise the Party’s engagement with
organisations and individuals in the branch area
and join with them in working for social justice.
Work to meet these objectives shall always have
priority in this branch’s plans and meetings.
2. This branch shall cover such area as may be
decided by the CLP and approved by the NEC in
accordance with Chapter 7 Clause VI.1 above of
the CLP’s rules.
Clause III.
Membership
1. Membership shall consist only of those individual
members of the Party who are registered as
electors in the area covered by this branch with
exceptionally those individual members who are
not eligible to be registered to vote but who
reside in the area.
2. The conditions of membership for, method of
enrolment of, and level of subscription payable
by individual members in this branch shall be as
laid down in the membership rules of the Party in
Chapter 2.
3. A proportion of members’ subscriptions may be
allocated to this branch as determined by the CLP
General Meeting, or by the Executive Committee
if given such delegated authority by the General
Meeting.
Chapter 8
Rules for branches
Clause IV.
Officers and Executive Committee
1. The officers of this branch shall be chair, vice
chair, secretary and treasurer. At least two of the
officers shall be women. This branch shall
appoint two auditors and other functional
officers as required.
2. This branch executive shall consist of the officers
and, if required, not more than four other
members.
3. Elections for these posts shall be held at the
annual meeting.
Clause V.
Meetings
1. The annual meeting of this branch shall be held
in {} of each year. In the event of the annual
meeting not being held in that month for any
reason it shall be held as soon thereafter as
possible.
2. Seven days’ notice of the annual meeting shall be
given to the CLP and to all individual members in
this branch.
3. This branch shall raise and hold funds to support
activities within the objects of this branch. The
financial year of this branch begin on 1 January
and end on 31December. The annual accounts of
this branch shall be forwarded to the CLP
Treasurer no later than the end of February each
year so they can be incorporated into the CLP’s
Annual Statement of Accounts.
4. Where the CLP requires delegates to be
appointed to the General Meeting of the CLP they
shall be elected at the annual meeting, but may
be changed as necessary at subsequent ordinary
meetings. A minimum quota of 50 per cent
women shall apply to these elected delegates.
Unless otherwise decided, the term of a General
Committee delegate elected at the annual
meeting shall commence at the annual general
meeting of the CLP.
5. Where the CLP requires delegates to be
appointed to the General Meeting of the CLP and
there are three or more members under the age
of 27, this branch may appoint one of them as an
additional Young Labour delegate to the CLP’s
General Meeting.
6. Ordinary meetings shall be held at such intervals
and on such notice as may be laid down in the
standing orders, or as determined by this branch
from time to time. Special meetings may be called
at the discretion of this branch executive or at the
written request of 20 per cent of the members.
Page 41
7. Notice of ordinary and special meetings shall be
sent to all members a minimum of seven days in
advance.
Clause VI.
Local government candidates
1. Local government candidates shall be selected in
accordance with the rules for selection of local
government candidates laid down in the rules of
the Party and in the selection guidelines
appended thereto along with any other
regulations approved by the NEC (Chapter 5).
Clause VII.
Miscellaneous
1. The general provisions of the constitution and
rules of the Party shall apply to this branch.
2. This branch shall not enter into affiliation or give
support financially or otherwise to any political
party or organisation ancillary or subsidiary
thereto declared ineligible for affiliation to the
Party by the annual Party conference or by the
NEC.
3. It shall be the duty of this branch to take all
necessary steps to safeguard the constitution,
programme and principles of the Party within its
area. Any decision taken under this clause
proposing the expulsion or exclusion of any
individual from membership shall be in the form
of a recommendation to the CLP which shall
determine the matter in accordance with the
disciplinary procedures laid out in the rules of the
Party (Chapter 6).
6. Every CLP and BLP of the Party and as a pre-
condition to continued membership thereto shall
with effect from forthwith do and execute such
acts and deeds to transfer the beneficial
ownership of their respective freehold and
leasehold properties legal title to which is
presently held either by individuals or by Labour
Party Nominees Limited to and for the benefit of
The Labour Party subject only to the CLPs’ and
BLPs’ existing rights of occupation thereof and to
their continued receipt of all rents and profits
there from and the right to license and to lease
the said properties from time to time subject to
the prior written consent of The NEC but subject
to the CLPs’ and BLPs’ continuing respective
obligations in respect of any borrowings secured
on such properties. (note- For clarity this rule is
repeated in rules for CLPs)
7. Saving 5 and 6 above this branch shall not have
the power to enter into property-related
transactions or to employ staff
8. Should this branch be dissolved or cease to exist
for any reason its assets, after the payment of
any outstanding liabilities, shall be transferred to
the CLP.
9. This branch shall adopt standing orders and may
make such changes in the procedural rules and
these rules as may be agreed by the CLP and the
RD(GS) of the Party. Such changes shall not
contravene the spirit or intention of the model
rules as accepted by Party conference or the NEC.

4. For the avoidance of doubt, the Labour Party

Financial Scheme recognises the assets of this
branch as the assets of { } CLP, of which they are
a constituent part. It shall be the duty of this
branch to co-operate with the CLP regarding the
CLP’s obligations under the Political Parties,
Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Should this
branch fail to co-operate with the CLP, the NEC
will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary
action against individual members &/or suspend
this branch.

5. The Officers of this Branch shall use all

reasonable endeavours to procure that legal title
to any leasehold and freehold property presently
held by or in trust for this Branch by individual
Trustees shall be transferred forthwith to Labour
Party Nominees Limited to be held by it as
Trustee for the relevant Constituency Labour
Party upon the standard terms of Trust from time
to time approved by the NEC.

Chapter 8
Rules for branches Page 42
Chapter 9
Rules for Regional
Boards and European
Party units
1. The rules for English regional boards and the
Scottish and Welsh executives, including
procedural rules for meetings and for the election
of members of the board or executive, standing
orders committee and auditors, shall be
determined by the regional board/Scottish or
Welsh executive and approved by the NEC.

2. Full copies of the rules and standing orders that

have been approved for each of the regional
boards in England and for the Scottish and Wales
Labour Parties are available from the respective
RD(GS). Such rules may not conflict with the
model rules approved by Party conference.
Where any matters are not covered by
procedural rules approved by the NEC reference
should be made to the appropriate national
guidelines (such as those for Party Conference in
Chapter 3 ).

3. The regional board/Scottish or Welsh executive

will undertake the role of European Constituency
Labour Party and should organise at least one
European Forum per year in accordance with
procedural guidelines issued by the NEC.

4. The regional board/Scottish or Welsh executive

will undertake appeals against the withdrawal of
the whip by a Labour group, and appeals against
exclusion from the panel of local government
candidates. The regional board/Scottish or Welsh
executive will keep in place an appeals panel,
which may include members who are not elected
members of the regional board/Scottish or Welsh
executive.

5. Where there are regional/Scottish/Welsh

women’s committees or a regional BAME
members’ section or other forums the regional
board, Scottish or Welsh executive will be
responsible for overseeing their operation, and
drawing up their rules and standing orders, which
shall be approved by the NEC.

Chapter 9
Rules for Regional Boards and European Party units Page 43
Chapter 10
Rules for women’s
forums
Clause I.
Name
1. { } Constituency Labour Party women’s forum
Clause II.
Aims and values
1. National
A. The aims and values of the Party as outlined
in Chapter 1 Clause IV above of the
constitutional rules shall apply to this
women’s forum.
2. Constituency
A. The aims of this women’s forum shall be:
i. to encourage and support women
members to play a full and active part in all
the Party’s activities, particularly through
facilitating training, networking and
mentoring, and encouraging women to
run for elected office
ii. to build links with women in the
community, through contact with
community organisations and individual
women, consultation, campaigning and
joint working
iii. to encourage women to join the Party and
to ensure that new women members are
welcomed
iv. to ensure that women’s voices are heard in
the Party, through monitoring women’s
involvement in activities, and feeding
women’s concerns to the Party and to
policy makers
v. to work jointly with Labour women in
neighbouring constituencies in the delivery
of the above aims.
Chapter 10
Rules for women’s forums
Clause III.
Membership
1. The membership of the women’s forum shall
consist of all individual women members in { }
Constituency Labour Party. The women’s officer
should be provided with contact details for
women members in the constituency by the
constituency secretary. All women members shall
be mailed at least annually to inform them about
the activity of the women’s officer and/ or forum.
Clause IV.
Management
1. The women’s officer shall be responsible for
coordinating a women’s forum in the
constituency to aid her in delivering the aims of
the organisation. She will be, ex-officio, the chair/
co-ordinator of this group.
2. The women’s officer and forum shall draw up an
annual plan and a programme of activities. This
plan shall be agreed by the GM/ EC of the
constituency. The plan shall be prepared bearing
in mind:
A. the aims of the local women’s organisation
B. the particular interests and needs of local
women, as identified through surveying
women members
C. the guidelines and priorities circulated from
time to time by Party Head Office or, as
appropriate, the Scottish, Welsh or regional
office.
3. The women’s forum may appoint other officers to
help carry out its work.
4. The women’s officer shall build targets for the
year into her plans, which can then be monitored
and reviewed to help planning for future years.
5. The women’s forum shall register with the
appropriate Regional Director (or General
Secretary in Scotland or Wales), and re-register
on an annual basis.
Clause V.
Meetings
1. A meeting of the women’s forum shall only have
formal status if all women members in the
constituency have been given 14 days written
notice of the meeting, and the business to be
discussed, and at least ten eligible women
members attend.
Page 44
2. At a formal meeting the women’s forum may, if it
wishes, make nominations to the CLP for posts
open to nomination from branches (i.e. CLP
officers, parliamentary/ European parliamentary
candidate, members of the NEC, National Policy
Forum, etc.) and elect two delegates to the
constituency General Meeting. A formal meeting
may also agree motions to be sent to the General
Meeting.
3. The women’s forum may hold whatever informal
meetings or gatherings it sees fit to work towards
meeting its aims.
Clause VI.
Activities
1. The women’s forum shall prioritise work which
aims to support women members of the Party to
play an active part in all the Party’s activities – in
particular, training, mentoring and networking
among women to encourage women to:
A. hold elected office within the Party (e.g. as
branch or constituency chair, political
education officer, etc.)
B. stand as councillors, MPs, MEPs and other
forms of elected representative for the Party
C. become involved in the community, for
example, as school governors/ board
members, on committees of local
organisations, as magistrates, members of
community health councils, etc.
D. take part in all forms of Party activities – in
particular campaigns, recruitment activity,
Party committees, meetings and policy
forums.
2. The women’s forum shall also seek to build links
with women in the community through, for
example:
A. building relationships with organisations, such
as women’s voluntary organisations, tenants’
groups, trade unions and other organisations
in which women are active, through
information exchange, personal contact, joint
meetings, events and campaigns
B. working with the Party and Labour councillors
and MPs to consult women in the community
about their views and concerns, using
consultation meetings, policy forums, surveys,
listening campaigns and other techniques
C. targeted campaigning and recruitment activity
with women, including campaigns on issues of
particular interest to women such as women’s
health, childcare and violence against women.
Chapter 10
Rules for women’s forums
3. The women’s forum shall seek to ensure that
women’s voices are properly heard in the Party,
through the above activities and through, for
example:
A. feeding women’s views on policy into local
and national policy forums and to the
constituency’s General Meeting
B. encouraging women to play an active role in
these and other bodies, monitoring women’s
involvement and working with the rest of the
Party to develop arrangements which
maximise this involvement
C. bringing any problems regarding women’s
involvement, including through the filling of
quotas, to the attention of the constituency
secretary, other officers or the regional Party
office
D. holding local policy forums for women.
Clause VII.
Finances
1. The funds of the women’s forum shall consist of
donations, collections, profits from sales, and
receipts from activities undertaken by the forum.
In the event of the dissolution of the women’s
forum its assets shall belong to the { }
Constituency Labour Party.
2. The CLP shall, by agreement, make resources
available to the women’s forum (if operating
successfully), to enable it to function effectively.
The Party’s financial scheme recognises the
assets and financial transactions of this women’s
forum as the assets and financial transactions of {
} Constituency Labour Party, of which it is a
constituent part. It shall be the duty of this
women’s forum to co-operate with the CLP, and
in particular the CLP treasurer, in respect of the
CLP’s obligations under the Political Parties,
Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Should this
women’s forum fail to co-operate with the CLP,
the NEC will take appropriate disciplinary action
against individual members, suspend this
women’s forum or both.
Clause VIII.
General
1. The general provisions of the constitution and
rules of the Party shall apply to the women’s
forum.
Page 45
2. The women’s forum shall not enter into affiliation
or give support financially or otherwise to any
political party or organisation ancillary or
subsidiary thereto declared ineligible for
affiliation to the Party by the Party conference or
by the NEC.

3. This women’s forum shall not have the power to

enter into property-related transactions or to
employ staff

4. This women’s forum shall adopt standing orders

and procedural rules as may be agreed by the
appropriate RD(GS).

Clause IX.
Alteration to rules
1. Any alteration or addition to these rules may only
be made at the annual general meeting of the { }
Constituency Labour Party women’s forum but
must be submitted to the appropriate RD(GS) for
approval before being put into operation. Such
changes shall not contravene the spirit or
intention of the model rules as accepted by Party
conference or the NEC.

Chapter 10
Rules for women’s forums Page 46
Chapter 11
11. To maintain good relations with the youth
organisations of sister parties and with the
International Union of Socialist Youth and the
Rules for Young European Community Organisation of Socialist
Youth.
Labour
Clause IV.
Clause I. Membership
Name 1. All individual members of the Party aged
between14 and 26 years inclusive shall
{ } Young Labour automatically be members of Young Labour.

Clause II. Clause V. Structure

Establishment
1. There shall be a National Committee and an
1. Young Labour shall enjoy rights in respect of: Executive Committee to ensure the effective
administration and organisation of Young Labour.
A. Annual Conference
2. Young Labour members shall be able to establish
B. Regional, Welsh and Scottish Conferences
local Young Labour groups throughout England,
C. Nominations for Leadership elections Scotland and Wales.

3. Young Labour shall ensure at every level close

Clause III. cooperation and liaison with Labour Students and
Aims and values young trade unionists.

1. To help young Party members play a full and

active part within the Party.
2. To train and politically educate young Party
members, debate policy and decide upon
campaign activities.
3. To help young Party members organise social
activities.
4. To change the culture, particularly the meeting
culture, of the Party at branch and constituency
level and to organise more social activities at
every level.
Clause VI.
Regional Committees
1. The RD(GS) may convene a regional or Scottish or
Welsh committee to assist in the co-ordination
and work of Young Labour groups in their area.
Where these Scottish, Welsh and regional
committees are in existence, they shall produce
regular reports on their work and progress to the
National Committee of Young Labour and to the
NEC’s Youth Committee.

5. To advise the Party on issues that particularly

concern young people in Britain and issues that
concern young members of the Party.

6. To recruit and retain many more young people

into Party membership.

7. To campaign against all forms of discrimination

and prejudice, especially those based upon race,
colour, religion, disability, gender, age, gender
identity or sexual orientation.

8. To persuade more young people to vote Labour

at all elections.

9. To reverse the declining numbers of young

people who are registered to vote.

10. To maximise the number of postal votes from

young people.

Chapter 11
Rules for Young Labour Page 47
Chapter 11 (A)
Young Labour groups
Clause I.
Name
1. { } Young Labour
Clause II.
Aims and values
1. To help young Party members play a full and
active role within the Party.
2. To organise local social activities for young Party
members and for young people within the
community.
3. To train and politically educate young Party
members.
4. To change the culture, particularly the meeting
culture, of the Party at branch and constituency
level and to organise more social activities.
5. To persuade more young people to vote Labour
at all elections.
6. To recruit and retain many more young people
into Party membership.
7. To campaign against all forms of discrimination
and prejudice, especially those based upon race,
colour, religion, disability, gender, age, gender
identity or sexual orientation.
8. To reverse the declining numbers of young
people who are registered to vote.
9. To maximise the number of postal votes from
young people.
Clause III.
Membership
1. All individual members of the Party aged
between14 and 26 years inclusive, who live within
the geographical boundary of the Young Labour
group, shall automatically be members of the
group.
Chapter 11(A)
Young Labour groups
Clause IV.
Establishing a group
1. Young Party members may set up a Young
Labour group by applying to the RD(GS) giving
details as to the geographical boundaries – the
Party branches or constituencies – that the group
will cover. The member(s) shall also contact the
CLP secretary(ies) covered by the proposed
Young Labour group, informing them of the
intention to set up a local group. The member(s)
shall also notify the Young Labour office at Party
Head Office of the intention to set up a local
group.
2. The appropriate RD(GS) may then agree that a
group be set up and registered.
3. A Young Labour group is considered to be a bona
fide group when the appropriate RD(GS) informs
Party Head Office that a local group has been
registered.
Clause V.
Geographical boundaries
1. The geographical boundaries of Young Labour
groups shall be decided by the RD(GS).
2. The RD(GS) shall have the authority to change the
geographical boundaries of a Young Labour
group.
3. The Young Labour group shall notify Party Head
Office of their geographical boundary or any
changes to their geographical boundary.
Clause VI.
Meetings
1. Young Labour groups should avoid bureaucracy
at their meetings. Only the activities planned, the
division of duties and responsibilities between
members of the group, or a programme of action
need be officially recorded.
2. Political education discussions, speakers,
campaigns and elections, social activities should
be the main items on the agenda of meetings
with any other of the objectives and aims of
Young Labour.
3. Guidelines on running Young Labour group
meetings may be issued by the national
committee of Young Labour from time to time.
4. All individual members of the Party between the
ages of14 and 26 inclusive (identified as such on
the national membership system) and that live in
the area covered by the Young Labour group
should be invited to meetings of the group.
Page 48
5. The Young Labour office at Party Head Office Clause IX.
shall be given at least seven days written notice
of any meeting at which it is intended to elect
Relationship with constituency
officers of the Young Labour group. parties
1. Young Labour groups shall maintain good
Clause VII. relations with CLPs within their geographical
Officers boundary. In particular, the Young Labour group
shall inform the CLPs within their geographical
1. An annual meeting of the Young Labour group boundary of any campaigns, activities or events
shall be held which shall elect a chair, a secretary, they are running, organising or assisting with.
a membership and campaigns officer, and a Young Labour groups shall also receive the co-
women’s officer. These shall form the formal operation, encouragement and assistance of
officer group. Other ‘functional’ officers may be branches and CLPs and their officers.
appointed at the annual meeting. The names and
addresses of the officers of the Young Labour
group and any subsequent changes shall be
Clause X.
notified to Party Head Office. General relations
1. The Young Labour group shall set up links with
Clause VIII. local young trade unionists and other single-issue
Finance groups whose aims and objectives are
compatible with those of the Party as decided by
1. The Young Labour group may raise and spend its the NEC. The NEC’s decision in such matters shall
own funds if the expenditure is to further the be final and binding.
objectives of Young Labour as determined in
these rules and by the NEC. The secretary of the 2. Young Labour groups shall give reports at least
Young Labour group shall be responsible for the quarterly on their activities and any problems
finances of the group. and difficulties they are experiencing to the
National Committee of Young Labour through the
2. The Young Labour group shall submit its Young Labour office at Party Head Office.
accounts to the appropriate RD(GS) or on request
to the Young Labour office at Party Head Office.
Clause XI.
3. An arrangement may be made between the
Dissolution
Young Labour group and appropriate CLPs for a
proportion of young Party members’ 1. The RD(GS) shall have the authority to dissolve,
subscriptions to be paid to the group. reconstitute or change the geographical
boundary of Young Labour groups.
4. In the event of the dissolution of a Young Labour
group all funds and properties shall belong to the 2. A Young Labour member whose group is to be
National Committee of Young Labour. dissolved or reconstituted by a RD(GS) may
appeal against the decision to the NEC Youth
5. The Party’s financial scheme recognises the
Committee. The NEC’s decision shall be final and
assets and financial transactions of this Young
binding.
Labour group as the assets and financial
transactions of the Party region or nation in
which it is organised. It shall be the duty of this
Young Labour Group to co-operate with the
regional or national office in respect of its
obligations under the Political Parties, Elections
and Referendums Act 2000. Should this Young
Labour group fail to co-operate with the regional
or national office, the NEC will take appropriate
disciplinary action against individual members,
suspend this Young Labour Group or both.

Chapter 11(A)
Young Labour groups Page 49
Chapter 11 (B)
Young Labour
National Committee
Clause I.
Aims and values
1. To advise the NEC on the administration and
organisation of Young Labour; advise on all
matters affecting young people; advise on any
matters at the request of the NEC.
2. To establish relations with British youth
organisations whose purpose and activities are
not incompatible with membership of the Party.
3. To maintain association with overseas socialist
youth movements through affiliation to the
International Union of Socialist Youth and the
European Community Organisation of Socialist
Youth.
4. To present an annual report on its work to any
Young Labour national conference.
5. To receive reports from Young Labour groups
and give guidance to Young Labour groups so
that they are run effectively and efficiently.
6. To organise regional teams of people who shall
help, assist and provide information for local
Young Labour groups.
7. To organise teams of young members to help
fight by-elections and other campaigns and help
organise regional recruitment teams of young
members.
Clause II.
Membership
1. Regional Representatives
A. TWO representatives, at least one of whom
shall be a woman, shall be elected from each
of the Party English regions and the Scottish
and Welsh Labour parties as follows:
i. One elected to serve as the regional
representative on the Young Labour
National Committee;
ii. One elected to serve as the youth
representative on the appropriate
Regional Board or Scottish or Welsh
Executive.
2. The National Committee of Young Labour shall
comprise:
Chapter 11(B)
Young Labour National Committee
A. ONE representative, from each of the Party
English regions and the Scottish and Welsh
Labour parties elected as in 1.A.i above:
B. SIX representatives from trade unions
affiliated to the Party at least three of whom
shall be women.
C. THREE representatives from Labour Students
at least one of whom shall be a woman.
D. ONE representative of the Young Fabians
E. the young members’ representative on the
NEC
F. Four equality officers (women’s, LGBT, BAME,
disability) who shall be elected at Youth
Conference by self-defining members of those
groups.
G. An under 19s representative who shall be
elected youth conference by members under
19 years of age
H. An International Officer
I. Two other ordinary representatives, at least
one of whom shall be a woman
J. The Chair of the Co-Operative Party Youth
Committee
K. Such other representatives approved by this
committee of other affiliated organisations.
L. a national officer of the Party, appointed by
the NEC, shall be the permanent secretary
and an ex-officio member of the National
Committee.
Clause III.
Chair
1. Young Labour delegates at Youth Conference
shall elect a Chair who must be a woman at least
every other term.
Clause IV.
Executive
1. The National Committee shall elect other
members of the executive (at least one of whom
shall be a woman) which shall comprise:
A. vice-chair campaigns
B. assistant secretary.
Page 50
2. The permanent secretary and young members
representative on the NEC shall also be members
of the executive. In addition, the National
Committee shall, if it so wishes, appoint two
others to the executive. All members of the
executive shall also be members of the National
Committee unless this requirement is waived by
the NEC.

Clause V.
National Policy Forum
Representatives
1. The Young member’s representatives on the
National Policy Forum shall convene a committee
to promote healthy policy debate in the youth
movement. This committee shall elect ONE
representative to be Vice Chair (policy) on the
Young Labour National Committee and who shall
sit on the YLNC.

Clause VI.
Meetings
1. The National Committee of Young Labour shall
meet at least quarterly. The executive of Young
Labour shall meet as often as necessary. The
permanent secretary shall convene all meetings
of the National and Executive Committees. An
annual meeting of the National Committee shall
be held to elect the officers and executive of
Young Labour.

Clause VII.
Finance
1. The National Committee may raise and spend its
own funds, as long as expenditure is to achieve
the objectives of Young Labour as determined in
these rules and, from time to time, by the NEC.
The permanent secretary of the National
Committee shall act as treasurer of the National
Committee. The National Committee shall submit
its accounts to the NEC Youth Committee
annually.

Clause VIII.
Conference
1. Young Labour conference shall be held from time
to time as determined by the NEC under rules
approved by Party conference.

Chapter 11(B)
Young Labour National Committee Page 51
Chapter 12
Rules for Labour
Party Local Campaign
Forums
Note: These rules apply to all Local Campaign
Forums throughout England, Scotland and Wales,
operating for levels of directly elected local
government above that of parish/ community
council. Where there are Labour groups on parish or
community councils these should have a similar
relationship to the branches and/ or CLPs covering
their area as outlined in these rules. Where formal
arrangements are in operation these must be
sanctioned by the CLP concerned with the approval
of the appropriate RD(GS) on behalf of the NEC.
Clause I.
Name
1. The { } borough/ district/ Scottish or Welsh
unitary/ district/ county borough/ county Labour
Party Local Campaign Forum (LCF).
Clause II.
Objects
1. To co-ordinate the activities of CLPs and branches
within the area for the purpose of securing the
return of Labour representatives to the borough/
district/ unitary/ county borough/ county council
(‘the council’).
2. To work with the Labour Group to organise
opportunities for individual members, branches,
trade unions, affiliated organisations and
community organisations to enter into dialogue
with the Labour Group on current local
government policy issues and ideas for the
Party’s future programme and manifesto.
3. To compile a panel of candidates in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 5 of the national
rules of the Party.
4. To undertake activities within the area for the
purpose of new candidate recruitment.
5. The LCF shall seek to contest all seats in each
electoral area in consultation with the CLPs
concerned.
Chapter 12
Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Forums
Clause III.
General Principles
1. The Campaign Forum will be structured to deliver
the best organisation and campaigns in pursuit of
the objects above and to secure the best possible
representation for Labour in the authority.
2. The NEC shall provide guidance on model LCF
structures. The local Party/ies shall determine the
structure and membership of the LCF with
approval from the appropriate RD(GS) on behalf
on the NEC, following the principles laid out in
this chapter. These may include existing
structures where these are working effectively to
meet the objectives of the NEC.
Clause IV.
Membership
1. The membership of the LCF shall be focussed
around campaign delivery, the recruitment and
selection of candidates and the development of
opportunities for wider engagement with council
issues.
2. The NEC model will recommend that the
membership of the LCF should include the leader
and deputy leader of the Labour group or other
group officer as determined by the Labour group
(where such Labour Groups exists), any local and
regional organisers, and appropriate
representatives from the relevant CLPs, including
CLP campaign co-ordinators, representatives
from trade unions and, where appropriate, other
organisations affiliated to that constituency.
Where a Co-operative Party council exists for the
area concerned and they sponsor candidates in
local elections they shall be entitled to appoint a
member to the LCF. Additionally, any sitting MP,
AM, MSP, MEP, PCC and / or PPC may attend their
LCF.
3. The local Party should work to ensure that the
membership of the LCF is representative of the
communities in which it will work.
Clause V.
Officers and Executive Committee
1. The officers and Executive Committee shall be
elected at the first meeting of the LCF and
annually thereafter.
2. Where the number of LCF members make it
practicable, the LCF may resolve that the whole
LCF shall perform the functions of the Executive
Committee
Page 52
3. The officers shall consist of a chair, vice-chair, and
secretary. At least one of the officers shall be a
woman.
4. Where this LCF is an accounting unit of the Party
with regard to the Political Parties, Elections and
Referendums Act 2000, it shall have additional
officers of Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer. The
Chair shall also be the deputy treasurer to be
notified to the Electoral Commission. In
exceptional circumstances, and with the prior
approval of the General Secretary, a different
person may be appointed.
5. The Executive Committee shall consist of the
officers, the leader and deputy leader of the
Labour Group and { } members elected on a basis
to be approved by the NEC. Accredited Party
organisers within the area may attend Executive
Committee meetings without voting power.
Clause VI.
Meetings
1. The annual meeting shall be held in May each
year, or if such a meeting is not held, as soon as
possible afterwards.
2. The LCF shall meet whenever necessary to deliver
the best organisation and campaigns to secure
the best possible representation for Labour in the
authority. As a minimum, the LCF shall have at
least one meeting a year for each of: the creation
of a campaign strategy, the creation of a
recruitment strategy, the creation of a selection
strategy and to convene a selection panel.
3. The Executive Committee shall meet as required.
4. Meetings should be conducted in a comradely
fashion. No one entitled to attend shall be
precluded because they cannot gain access to the
meeting room for any reason. Harassment or
intimidation of members on the basis of gender,
age, sexual orientation and gender identity,
disability or race is unacceptable.
Clause VII.
Finance
1. The administrative expenses of this LCF shall be
met from contributions subscribed by the CLPs
concerned in agreed proportions.
2. The CLPs shall be responsible for the expenses
incurred in contesting elections and by elections
within their area. They shall also meet a
proportionate share of any expenses which the
CLPs agree shall be incurred by this LCF in
contesting such elections.
Chapter 12
Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Forums
Clause VIII.
General
1. The electoral policy and programme for the
appropriate elections shall be decided by the
council Labour group or by this LCF where no
Labour Group exists. In each case this LCF shall
work to organise opportunities for wider
consultation to assist the development of policy.
2. The Executive Committee of this LCF shall seek to
contest all seats in each electoral area in
consultation with the CLP concerned.
Clause IX.
Candidates
1. The LCF shall select and convene an interview
panel for the selection of candidates. This shall
include a member of the LCF, and respective CLPs
and Labour groups may nominate a member to
sit on this panel. The LCF may co-opt additional
members, including members from other Labour
parties, when it is deemed necessary, in line with
the selection guidelines approved by the NEC.
2. Candidates for the appropriate elections shall be
selected in accordance with the rules for the
selection of local government candidates laid
down in Chapter 5 of these rules and in the
selection guidelines appended thereto along with
any other regulations approved by the NEC.
3. In the event of a by-election arising the Executive
Committee shall consult with the executive
committees of the CLP and branches concerned
to ensure that a candidate is selected as far as
possible following the procedure referred to
above. In the case of an emergency, it shall take
whatever action that may be necessary to meet
the situation and to ensure that the vacancy is
contested by the Party.
Clause X.
Relations with the Labour group
1. For the purpose of maintaining contact between
the group and the local Party, representatives of
the LCF and CLPs (‘group observers’) may attend
group meetings with the right to speak on all
matters coming before the group (subject to
Chapter 13 Clause IX below and Chapter 13
Clause XIII below of the group rules) but not to
propose or second motions or amendments or to
vote. The number of group observers shall be
locally determined but shall not exceed one third
of the membership of the group up to a
maximum of six observers.
Page 53
Clause XI. 6. The NEC shall have the authority to determine
how these rules shall be applied in particular
Miscellaneous circumstances and make any adaptations
1. The general provisions of the constitution and necessary to suit different or new levels of local
rules of the Party shall apply to this Local government as they arise.
Campaign Forum.

2. Where this LCF is an accounting unit of the Party

with regard to the Political Parties, Elections and
Referendums Act 2000, it shall co-operate fully
with regard to its legal and financial obligations.

A. All accounting units will comply with their legal

obligations under PPERA 2000 including using
1 January to 31 December as the financial
year, maintaining adequate financial records,
identifying and reporting donations and loans,
producing an annual statement of accounts
and providing all relevant information as
requested to the Party. Failure to meet these
obligations may lead to the NEC taking
disciplinary action against individual
members, the suspension of the appropriate
Party unit or both.

B. Following each annual meeting of this LCF the

secretary shall forward to General Secretary a
copy of the LCF annual report, including the
annual statement of accounts and such other
information as may be requested by the NEC
in the format required and in compliance with
the CLP’s legal and financial responsibilities
under the Political Parties, Elections and
Referendums Act 2000.

C. The annual statement of accounts must be

presented to and approved by a general
meeting in the first quarter of the year
following the year in question. Where
required by PPERA 2000, the annual
statement of accounts must be forwarded to
the Electoral Commission by 30 April of the
year following the year in question.

3. Where this LCF is not an accounting unit of the

Party with regard to the Political Parties Elections
and Referendums Act 2000, it shall liaise with and
cooperate with the Regional Office to ensure that
the CLPs which have a geographical interest in
the LCF are able to meet their legal and financial
obligations.

4. Should this LCF fail to co-operate with the Party

with regard to its obligations under the Act, the
NEC will not hesitate to take appropriate
disciplinary action against individual members
and/or suspend this LCF.

5. Any insertions or proposed changes to these

rules for Local Campaign Forums are subject to
the approval of the NEC.

Chapter 12
Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Forums Page 54
Chapter 13
Rules for local
government Labour
groups on principal
authorities
Clause I.
General rules and provisions for
Labour groups on local authorities
1. These rules apply to all local government Labour
groups throughout England, Scotland and Wales,
operating for levels of directly elected local
government above that of parish/ community
council. Where there are Labour groups on parish
or community councils these should have a
similar relationship to the branch and/ or CLPs
covering their area as that of a Labour group with
a Local Campaign Forum. Where formal
arrangements are in operation these must be
sanctioned by the CLP concerned with the
approval of the appropriate RD(GS) on behalf of
the NEC. The following rules apply to all Labour
groups. However, recognising that different
forms of governance may apply in different local
authorities, the Party’s standing orders and
guidance for Labour groups on local authorities
vary accordingly. Labour groups shall adopt the
appropriate set of model standing orders
approved from time to time by the NEC,
according to local governance arrangements.
Labour groups shall act in accordance with
guidance that shall be issued from time to time
by the NEC in the application of these rules.
Clause II.
Aims and Values
1. Labour Groups
A. To work constructively in their local authority
for real and sustainable improvements in the
economic, social and environmental well-
being of the communities and local people
they represent.
i. Labour Groups shall campaign for
measures that will secure stronger and
safer communities for local people, a high
quality of life and effective and responsive
delivery of services, and that will provide
community leadership.
Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities
B. To operate at all times as a Group in an
effective and comradely fashion.
i. Labour groups shall conduct their business
in a comradely fashion, in such a way as to
maximise participation from all members
and to facilitate debate on key policy and
political matters. Attendance at group
meetings by all members is important to
ensure all points of view are heard and a
full internal discussion is possible. The
content of internal discussion is not for
communication outside the Party, and
internal disputes that are aired in the
public domain will be subject to
disciplinary action.
C. To ensure every Group member is enabled
fully to contribute.
i. All members and liaison members shall be
able to gain access to the room and attend
all group meetings (unless suspended
from the whip). Harassment or
intimidation of members for any reason,
or on the basis of gender, age, sexual
orientation and gender identity, race,
religion or disability is unacceptable
conduct and subject to disciplinary action.
D. To engage with the local Party and wider
community.
i. Labour groups shall engage in and
encourage active and constructive debate
and policy development with local Party
members on local government matters.
Labour groups should be outward-looking
and active in their local communities,
working in partnership with community
groups, tenants’ and residents’
associations, business groups, trades
unions and all other relevant interests, and
support consultative mechanisms in their
local authority.
2. Individual members of Labour groups and group
observers
A. To uphold the highest standards of probity
and integrity.
i. The Party requires its representatives to
uphold the highest standards of probity
and integrity and they shall be guided in
those standards by advice from the NEC.
ii. The onus of responsibility for upholding
those standards rests with the individual
councillor and group observer. Specifically,
it shall be the responsibility of the group
whip to establish a register of interests in
the form prescribed by the NEC, detailing
Page 55
 for each member of the group and group
observer their employment, financial
interests in companies, membership of
trade unions and other societies or
organisations.
iii. Labour councillors and members must at
all times avoid not only wrong-doing but
also the perception of wrong-doing.
Therefore if there is any uncertainty
regarding whether a declaration of interest
is appropriate, Labour councillors and
members must take the most open course
of action and declare an interest or
disclose all relevant circumstances, taking
advice if necessary.
iv. The statutory provisions relating to the
declaration of pecuniary interests shall
apply to full group meetings and other
meetings of all or part of the Labour group
(e.g. pre meetings). Councillors and group
observers are required to take the
appropriate actions in all those meetings
in respect of any interest (e.g. an individual
with a pecuniary interest in the item under
discussion must declare that interest and
leave the meeting while that item is under
consideration).
v. Members of the Labour group in
administration must comply with the
provisions of the Local Government
Finance Act 1988 and subsequent revisions
and shall not vote against or abstain on a
vote in full Council to set a legal budget
proposed by the administration. Members
of the Labour Group shall not support any
proposal to set an illegal budget. Any
councillor who votes against or abstains
on a Labour group policy decision in this
matter may face disciplinary action.
B. To comply fully with the statutory ethical
framework.
i. Members of the Labour group must sign
and abide by any codes of conduct as may
be agreed by the local authority from time
to time. All members must sign up to the
local code within two months of it being
adopted, or they cease to be a member of
the council. Members of the Labour group
must sign any other legal requirements
relating to acceptance of office. Members
must refer any wrong-doing by other
members to the Group Whip and to the
Relevant standards committee for
England, Local Government Ombudsman
in Wales or Standards Commission in
Scotland, and/or local Standards
Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities
Committee and the Group Whip should
immediately consider appropriate action if
any Labour councillor is referred to a
Standards body.
ii. Should a standards body find against a
member, an investigation be established
to decide on the appropriate internal
sanction.
C. To accept the rules and standing orders of the
Labour group.
i. Members of the Labour group must
register as members of the Labour group
under the provisions of the Local
Government (Committees & Political
Groups) regulations 1990. Failure to do so
within 14 days of a written request from
an officer of the group or the Party’s
Governance and Legal Unit shall
automatically render that person outside
the group for all purposes and ineligible to
be or remain a Party member (subject to
the provisions of Chapter 6 A.2 above of
the Party’s disciplinary rules).
ii. Members of the Labour group shall agree
in writing to abide by the rules and
standing orders of the Labour group, as
agreed at the annual meeting of the group.
The general provisions of the constitution
and rules of the Party shall apply to this
group.
D. To seek to the best of their ability to be
effective and influential councillors.
i. The Party expects its councillors to have at
least minimum competencies in carrying
out their public duties, and will intervene
where political management leads to a
failure in public service and performance
of the authority, and where there is a lack
of commitment displayed by leading
members in the improvement agenda.
ii. Members of the Labour group also shall
commit themselves to certain minimum
duties and activities as councillors, as set
out in guidance that shall be issued from
time to time by the NEC. This shall include
attendance at council meetings and other
meetings of which you are a member, the
holding of advice surgeries, attendance at
consultative meetings in the ward, and
regular communications with local
residents.
iii. Members of the Labour group shall have a
responsibility to take up such
opportunities of training and development
that may be provided by the council or the
Page 56
 group or Party, in order better to carry out
their activities as effective and influential
councillors. Through their council duties
and activities in the community, members
of the Labour group should seek to
promote Party policies and to represent
and empower local people and
communities, and act in a way that does
not bring the Party into disrepute.
Clause III.
Membership of the group
1. Members of the Labour group must be individual
members of the Party with the subscriptions paid
at the standard rate by continuous authority and
must have been elected to and be eligible for
membership of the local authority.
2. Members of the Labour group shall pay an
annual levy to the Party of 2 per cent of their total
income from council and joint body sources, in
line with all elected representatives of the Party.
For a Labour Group with ten or more members,
or with an allowance amount of £1,000 or more,
the elected representative levy shall be paid
through a group contribution by a continuous
payment method from group funds, the
deduction being the figure notified to the Party
by the group secretary by 6 September each year
and taken in 5 instalments commencing
September. Labour Groups with fewer than 10
members or an allowance of less than £1,000
may choose to pay either by a continuous
payment method described above, or make a
single payment in December.
3. For the purpose of effective and vibrant electoral
organisation, members of the Labour group shall
pay an annual contribution to the Labour group
of a recommended minimum of 5 per cent of
their total income from council and joint body
sources, to cover group administration,
communications and other appropriate activity.
The amount and budget shall be determined by
local circumstances, agreed by the group at its
AGM and paid within 30 days of such agreement
or on an equal monthly basis. Subject to the
motion to be agreed at the AGM, members of the
Labour group shall give the requisite authority to
their council for payment of their due amounts
through the council’s payroll system if the council
affords this facility.
Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities
4. Membership of the Labour group is dependent
on payment of the elected representative levy
and annual contribution to the Labour group.
Members of the Labour group who fail to
maintain payments under 1, 2 and 3 above,
according to the rules of the Party and standing
orders of the group shall have the whip
automatically withdrawn, suspending them from
membership of the Labour group until their
membership of the Party and/or elected
representative levy and/or contribution to the
Labour group is reinstated.
5. No amount paid under 2 and 3 above nor any
other subscription payment or other levy paid
under this Clause III by or on account of being a
member of the Labour group shall be refundable
either in whole or in part to either the Labour
group or a member by reason of a member
leaving, being suspended or removed from the
Labour group at any time for whatever reason.
6. For the purpose of maintaining contact between
the Labour group and the appropriate Party Local
Campaign Forum, representatives of the latter
(‘group observers’) may attend group meetings;
the number of group observers shall be locally
determined but shall not exceed one third of the
membership of the group up to a maximum of 6
members. Observers will have the right to speak
on all matters coming before the group (subject
to Clause II.1.B.i above) but shall not propose or
second motions or amendments or vote. Group
observers shall have access to all information
under consideration by the group subject to any
statutory or other conditions imposed on the
council and individual councillors.
7. Accredited Party organisers within the area shall
be ex-officio members of the group without
voting power unless eligible under 1 above.
8. Attendance at group meetings shall be restricted
to members of the Party referred to in these
rules except at the special invitation of the group.
9. All those attending Labour group meetings shall
abide by the ethical behaviour requirements as
set out in Clause II.1.B above.
Clause IV.
Group meetings
1. Ordinary meetings of the Labour group shall be
held at an agreed time between the publication
of the council agenda and the full meeting of the
council, and on such other dates as may be
agreed at the annual meeting.
Page 57
2. The annual meeting of the group shall be held, on
date/s to be determined, prior to the statutory
annual meeting of the council, for the election of
group officers, to make nominations to civic
office, council leadership, executive and scrutiny
positions, chair and vice chair of committees and
to allocate members to committees. All groups
shall follow NEC guidance on good practice in
running annual group meetings (see the AGM
Toolkit).
Clause V.
Group officers
1. The Labour group shall appoint group officers at
the annual meeting in accordance with the group
standing orders, and in a manner that ensures
equality of opportunity and encourages under-
represented groups to come forward. As a
minimum, the gender balance of the officer
group will reflect the gender balance of the
Labour group as a whole. Any deviation from this
will require consent from your RD(GS).
Clause VI.
Group executive
1. Where the Labour group chooses to appoint a
group executive, the group shall do so at its
annual meeting in accordance with the group
standing orders, and in a manner that ensures
equality of opportunity and encourages under-
represented groups to come forward. As a
minimum, the gender balance of the Labour
group executive will reflect the gender balance of
the Labour group as a whole. Any deviation from
this will require consent from your RD(GS).
Clause VII.
Casual vacancies
1. Casual vacancies among the group officers or in
the executive shall be filled at an ordinary or
other meeting of the group. Appropriate notice of
an election shall be given.
Clause VIII.
Determination of group policy and
action
1. The local government election campaign strategy
shall be determined by the local Party, normally
the Local Campaign Forum in consultation with
the Labour Group. The Labour Group shall
formulate election manifestos in consultation
with the local Party and relevant CLPs.
Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities
2. Labour group standing orders shall specify the
matters on which it shall be the responsibility of
the group to take decisions. The group and the
local Party shall arrange a rolling programme of
policy discussion and development during the
year, where progress with the implementation of
policy or any new developments that have arisen
since the election manifesto was produced shall
be discussed. The form of such a programme
shall be jointly agreed by the Labour group and
local Party
3. The policy of the Labour group shall be
determined by the group meeting on the
recommendation of the executive or otherwise.
In cases of emergency, where action is required
by motion or otherwise, such action may be
taken by the executive that shall report its action
for approval to the next group meeting. In cases
of still greater urgency, which do not admit of
delay, the leader of the group (or in the absence
of the leader, a deputy), in consultation wherever
possible with other officers, shall have power to
act; such action to be reported to the next
meeting of the group or group executive for
approval.
Clause IX.
Selection of nominations for civic
offices, council leadership and other
council appointments
1. The selection of nominations for civic offices,
council leadership, chair and vice-chair of any
committees and allocation of members to
committees shall be made in accordance with the
group standing orders, and in a manner that
ensures equality of opportunity and encourages
under-represented groups to come forward. The
Party expects Labour cabinets to reflect the
diversity of the area represented by the local
authority as far as possible, and to discuss any
failure to do so with the RD(GS). Where a vote for
a nomination is necessary it shall be by secret
ballot. The appropriate Local Campaign Forum of
the Party shall have the right and opportunity to
submit names for consideration, but formal
nomination and selection shall be as specified in
the group standing orders.
Page 58
Clause X. 5. The demands of modern local government
requires the Party to have regard to competency
Arrangements with other parties in considering the performance of its councillors,
1. Where no one Party has an overall majority on especially those in a leadership position, and may
the council, the group shall operate under take action through the NEC to intervene to
guidance issued from time to time by the NEC. ensure effective political management and
Labour groups must not enter into any leadership, and a commitment to the
arrangements with other parties or Independent improvement agenda.
directly elected Mayors, to determine the political
control and management of the local authority, Clause XII.
which do not comply with the NEC’s approved
Groups on committees
options, and without the specific prior approval
of the NEC. Groups and members must stand 1. The group standing orders shall specify how
down from multi-Party arrangements on the these rules may be applicable to Labour groups
instruction of the regional office, after discussion on, and members of, committees and sub-
with the NEC. committees of the council including any co-opted
members.
Clause XI.
Action by individual members Clause XIII.
Breach of rule
1. Action by individual members of the Labour
group shall conform to the group standing 1. Acceptance of these rules (as approved by the
orders. Labour recognises that individual NEC) is a condition of membership of the Labour
members, to fulfil their representative duties, group on the council.
may without consultation speak and ask
2. Where allegations of a breach of rule by a Labour
questions in meetings of the council on behalf of
councillor are made, action shall be taken in
their constituents or other community interests.
accordance with guidance provided from time to
Where the tendency of such interventions is likely
time by the NEC. The chief whip shall be
to be in conflict with the policy of the group, it is
responsible for the implementation of such
the responsibility of the individual member to
guidance locally.
ensure that the relevant lead member of the
group is consulted. 3. If, following any initial investigation, the group
whip finds a serious breach of rule, it shall be
2. Individual members of the group are bound by
competent for the group whip to be withdrawn
Party policy and values, and should be committed
for a specified period up to a maximum of six
to comradely behaviour. They should not issue
months or for an indefinite period, from any
publications, or maintain web sites, or speak to
member who is in breach of these rules, such
the press in a way which opposes Party policy or
action to be initiated by the group whip who
attacks other members of their group or
shall:
members of groups in neighbouring or other tier
authorities. A. report to the officers of the group and the
appropriate Party Local Campaign Forum who
3. Where matters of conscience arise (e.g. religion,
shall ensure that there is no Party discussion
temperance) individual members of the group
on the proposed action outside the procedure
may abstain from voting provided they first raise
provided for in this rule until this procedure
the matter at a group meeting in order to
has been completed.
ascertain the feeling of the group.
B. convene a joint meeting of the Labour group
4. In matters where the council or its committees or
and the executive of the appropriate Party
sub-committees are acting in a quasi-judicial
Local Campaign Forum at which upon due
capacity (e.g. licensing of pubs, theatres and
notice the matter shall be determined with
cinemas or the consideration of planning
the chair from the Labour Group and
applications) or in the scrutiny process each
evidence taken in writing, from the defendant,
member shall form his or her own judgement
and from witnesses as necessary).
according to the evidence, and not be bound by a
group whip. However, the member should have
regard to their membership of the Party and seek
to act in keeping with Party policy and values.

Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities Page 59
4. Where the NEC determine there are exceptional
circumstances, the NEC Disputes Panel shall be
charged with the responsibility to undertake
procedures relating to a breach of these rules,
thus in such instant relieving the Labour group
and Local Campaign Forum executive of such
powers.
5. Withdrawal of whip
A. A decision to withdraw the whip shall take
immediate effect but is subject to appeal
within 14 days to the appeal panel of the
Regional Executive Committee who shall hear
the appeal within 14 days where practicable of
receipt and whose decision shall be final.
B. Where a decision to withdraw the whip has
been made by a panel of the NEC, an appeal
may be made to the General Secretary of the
Party within 14 days. The appeal shall be
heard by a panel of not less than three
members drawn from the NCC, who shall hear
the appeal, within 28 days where practicable
and whose decision shall be final.
6. Any member of the group who has had the group
whip withdrawn shall at the time of such
withdrawal be informed of their right to appeal.
Once such appeal procedure, if any, has upheld a
decision to withdraw the whip without a time
limit being determined, the member concerned
shall be ineligible to be or to be nominated as a
Labour candidate or as a public representative at
any level of election as long as s/he is not in
receipt of that whip (this shall not apply when the
suspension is for a fixed period). A member who
has had the group whip withdrawn must remain
registered as a member of the Labour group in
accordance with Clause II.2.C above.
7. Any member who has had the whip withdrawn
without a time limit being determined shall after
six months be eligible to apply to the Labour
group for re-admission. In such cases, the Labour
group shall be responsible for restoration of the
whip. Where the whip has been withdrawn by the
NEC, application for restoration of the whip after
six months shall be made to the NEC.
Clause XIV.
Reporting to and consulting with the
Party
1. Members of the Labour group are entitled and
encouraged to attend meetings of their
constituency Party and appropriate local Party
units. The group standing orders shall specify
how the group and council leadership shall report
to and consult with the appropriate local Party on
a regular basis; the leader and deputy leader of
the Labour Group, or other Group officer as
determined by the Group shall be members of
the LCF and its Executive Committee. The Party
expects the group leadership to give a minimum
of reports and hold a number of policy
consultations within the year, to keep the Party
informed of budgetary and service delivery
issues, and other policy areas.
2. The provisions for consultation between the Party
and Labour group set out in these rules and the
model standing orders are the minimum
arrangements required. Local Parties and groups
are encouraged to secure the greatest possible
degree of cooperation and consultation on all
matters concerning local governance in their
area.
Clause XV.
Group standing orders
1. Labour groups, in consultation with the Party’s
Governance and Legal Unit, shall adopt and
follow the relevant model rules and standing
orders issued from time to time by the NEC,
according to the political management
arrangements in operation in their local
authority. These standing orders may be varied
from time to time by the NEC.
2. Any insertions or proposed changes to Labour
group rules or standing orders are subject to the
prior approval of the NEC.

8. Where a member of the Labour group is alleged

to have breached any element of the statutory
ethical framework, the chief whip shall follow the
guidance issued from time to time by the NEC in
determining what action, if any, needs to be
taken by the Labour group.

Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities Page 60
Clause XVI. iii. They are also contained within the Labour
Group AGM Toolkit, issued annually to
Compliance with PPERA group secretaries
1. Labour groups are members associations for the
purposes of the Political Parties, Elections and
Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). They do not form
part of the central organisation of the Party or
any of its accounting units, including any Local
Campaign Forum, for those purposes. Group
members shall ensure that they comply with their
individual obligations, and that the group
complies with its collective obligations, under
PPERA, in particular in respect of political
spending and donation reporting. Group
members shall co-operate with the officers of
other Party units to enable them to comply with
their obligations under PPERA, in particular in
respect of financial transfers between the group
and/or group members and those other units.
Should the group or any of its members fail to
cooperate with any relevant Party unit in respect
of any of its or their PPERA obligations, the NEC
will take appropriate disciplinary action against
individual members, suspend the group or both.

Clause XVII.
Miscellaneous
1. Labour groups on joint boards, committees, on
regional bodies and on local government
associations shall adopt appropriate rules and
standing orders in consultation with the Party’s
Local Government Unit and with the prior
approval of the NEC.

2. The rules contained in Chapter 13 are minimum

requirements for the operation of Labour groups
and the conduct of Labour councillors. Due
account must be taken of the resources for
member development and the guidance
approved by the NEC and of such advice as may
be issued from time to time by the NEC.

3. Model standing orders for Labour groups

A. The NEC has approved a single set of model

standing orders for Labour groups, which will
encompass the different sets of standing
orders previously available in sections 13B to
13F. The model standing orders can be
obtained via a number of different routes:

i. on the local government pages of the

Labour Party website

ii. by contacting the Governance and Legal

Unit at Labour Party Head Office,
telephone 020 7783 1498 or email
legal_queries@labour.org.uk

Chapter 13
Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities Page 61
Chapter 14
Rules for Ethnic
Minorities Forums
Clause I.
Name
1. { } Constituency Labour Party ethnic minorities
forum.
Clause II.
Aims and values
1. National
A. The aims and values of the Party as outlined
in Chapter 1 Clause IV of the national
constitutional rules shall apply to this ethnic
minorities forum.
2. Constituency
A. The aims of this ethnic minorities forum shall
be:
i. to encourage and support Black, Asian,
Minority Ethnic (BAME) members to play a
full and active part in all the Party’s
activities, particularly through facilitating
training, networking and mentoring, and
encouraging BAME members to run for
elected office.
ii. to build links with BAME voters in the
community, through contact with
community organisations and individual
BAME voters, consultation, campaigning
and joint working.
iii. to encourage BAME voters to join the Party
and to ensure that new BAME members
are welcomed.
iv. to ensure that BAME members’ voices are
heard in the Party, through monitoring
BAME’s involvement in activities, and
feeding BAME’s concerns to the Party and
to policy makers.
v. to work jointly with Labour BAME
members in neighbouring constituencies
in the delivery of the above aims.
Chapter 14
Rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums
Clause III.
Membership
1. The membership of the ethnic minorities forum
shall consist of all individual BAME members in { }
Constituency Labour Party. The ethnic minorities
officer should be provided with contact details for
BAME members in the constituency by the
constituency secretary. All BAME members shall
be mailed at least annually to inform them about
the activity of the ethnic minorities officer and/ or
forum.
Clause IV.
Management
1. The ethnic minorities officer shall be responsible
for co-ordinating an ethnic minorities forum in
the constituency to aid them in delivering the
aims of the organisation. She/he will be, ex-
officio, the chair/ co-ordinator of this group.
2. The ethnic minorities officer and forum shall
draw up an annual plan and a programme of
activities. This plan shall be agreed by the GM/ EC
of the constituency. The plan shall be prepared
bearing in mind:
A. the aims of the local ethnic minorities forum.
B. the particular interests and needs of local
BAME members, as identified through
surveying BAME members.
C. the guidelines and priorities circulated from
time to time by Party Head Office or, as
appropriate, the Scottish, Welsh or regional
office.
3. The ethnic minorities forum may appoint other
officers to help carry out its work.
4. The ethnic minorities officer shall build targets for
the year into their plans, which can then be
monitored and reviewed to help planning for
future years.
5. The ethnic minorities forum shall register with
the appropriate Regional Director (or General
Secretary in Scotland or Wales), and re-register
on an annual basis.
Clause V.
Meetings
1. A meeting of the ethnic minorities forum shall
only have formal status if all BAME members in
the constituency have been given 14 days written
notice of the meeting, and the business to be
discussed, and at least ten eligible BAME
members attend.
Page 62
2. At a formal meeting the ethnic minorities forum
may, if it wishes, make nominations to the CLP for
posts open to nomination from branches (i.e. CLP
officers, parliamentary/ European parliamentary
candidate, members of the NEC, National Policy
Forum, etc.) and elect two delegates to the
constituency General Meeting, at least one of
which must be a woman. A formal meeting may
also agree motions to be sent to the General
Meeting.
3. The ethnic minorities forum may hold whatever
informal meetings or gatherings it sees fit to work
towards meeting its aims.
Clause VI.
Activities
1. The ethnic minorities forum shall prioritise work
which aims to support BAME members of the
Party to play an active part in all the Party’s
activities – in particular, training, mentoring and
networking among BAME members to encourage
them to:
A. hold elected office within the Party (e.g. as
branch or constituency chair, political
education officer, etc.).
B. stand as councillors, MPs, MEPs and other
forms of elected representative for the Party.
C. become involved in the community, for
example, as school governors/ board
members, on committees of local
organisations, as magistrates, members of
community health councils, etc.
D. take part in all forms of Party activities – in
particular campaigns, recruitment activity,
Party committees, meetings and policy
forums.
2. The ethnic minorities forum shall also seek to
build links with BAME voters in the community
through, for example:
A. building relationships with organisations, such
as BAME voluntary organisations, tenants’
groups, trade unions and other organisations
in which BAME voters are active, through
information exchange, personal contact, joint
meetings, events and campaigns.
B. working with the Party and Labour councillors
and MPs to consult BAME voters in the
community about their views and concerns,
using consultation meetings, policy forums,
surveys, listening campaigns and other
techniques.
Chapter 14
Rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums
C. targeted campaigning and recruitment activity
with BAME voters, including campaigns on
issues of particular interest to BAME voters.
D. The ethnic minorities forum shall seek to
ensure that BAME members’ voices are
properly heard in the Party, through the
above activities and through, for example:
i. feeding BAME members’ views on policy
into local and national policy forums and
to the constituency’s General Meeting.
ii. encouraging BAME members to play an
active role in these and other bodies,
monitoring BAME members involvement
and working with the rest of the Party to
develop arrangements which maximise
this involvement.
iii. bringing any problems regarding BAME
involvement to the attention of the
constituency secretary, other officers or
the regional Party office.
iv. inholding local policy forums for BAME
members and members of the community.
Clause VII.
Finances
1. The funds of the ethnic minorities forum shall
consist of donations, collections, profits from
sales, and receipts from activities undertaken by
the forum. In the event of the dissolution of the
ethnic minorities forum its assets shall belong to
the { } Constituency Labour Party. The
Constituency Labour Party shall, by agreement,
make resources available to the ethnic minorities
forum (if operating successfully), to enable it to
function effectively. The Labour Party’s financial
scheme recognises the assets and financial
transactions of this ethnic minorities forum as
the assets and financial transactions of { }
Constituency Labour Party, of which it is a
constituent part. It shall be the duty of this ethnic
minorities forum to co-operate with the CLP, and
in particular the CLP treasurer, in respect of the
CLP’s obligations under the Political Parties,
Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Should this
ethnic minorities forum fail to co- operate with
the CLP, the NEC will take appropriate disciplinary
action against individual members, suspend this
ethnic minorities forum or both.
Clause VIII.
General
1. The general provisions of the constitution and
rules of the Party shall apply to the ethnic
minorities forum.
Page 63
2. The ethnic minorities forum shall not enter into
affiliation or give support financially or otherwise
to any political party or organisation ancillary or
subsidiary thereto declared ineligible for
affiliation to the Party by the annual Party
conference or by the NEC.
3. This ethnic minorities forum shall not have the
power to enter into property-related transactions
or to employ staff.
4. This ethnic minorities forum shall adopt standing
orders and procedural rules as may be agreed by
the appropriate RD(GS).
Chapter 14
Rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums
Clause IX.
Alteration to rules
1. Any alteration or addition to these rules may only
be made at the annual general meeting of the { }
Constituency Labour Party ethnic minorities
forum but must be submitted to the appropriate
RD(GS) for approval before being put into
operation. Such changes shall not contravene the
spirit or intention of the model rules as accepted
by Party conference or the NEC.
Page 64
PROCEDURAL
RULES
Chapter 15
Model procedural
rules
Clause I.
Model Standing Orders for Party
Units
1. These model procedural rules are designed to
provide a framework for well-ordered Party
meetings. Party units will want to adopt local
standing orders to reflect their specific method of
operation; however, local arrangements must not
conflict with the provisions of these model rules
which have the full authority of the NEC and form
part of the rule book.
2. Throughout these rules alternative ‘A’ is for Party
units which have a delegate structure (e.g. CLPs,
Local Campaign Forums); alternative ‘B’ is for
meetings of individual members (e.g. CLPs,
branches, women’s forums, Young Labour).
A. Annual General Meetings
i. The Annual General Meeting of {this body}
shall be held each year in the month of { }.
ii. A formal notice of the annual meeting
shall be sent by the secretary to all Party
units and organisations entitled to be
represented at least 28 days prior to the
meeting. A notice detailing the business of
the annual meeting shall be sent to all duly
appointed delegates or eligible members
at least seven days prior to the meeting.
B. Ordinary meetings
i. Ordinary meetings shall be held on the
following regular basis { }. There shall be
no meetings to transact ordinary business
during the period of a national election
campaign.
ii. Formal notice of all meetings shall be sent
out by the secretary to all those entitled to
attend at least seven days prior to the
meeting. Such notice shall as far as
possible include an indication of the
business to be transacted at the meeting.
iii. A record of attendance at meetings shall
be kept and those attending may be
required to show a credential and/ or
proof of membership card to gain entry to
the meeting room.
C. Meeting times
Chapter 15
Model procedural rules
i. Meetings shall commence at { }. Business
meetings shall not be held if a quorum is
not present within 30 minutes of the
appointed time; always provided that in
special circumstances members present
may agree to transact pressing business
subject to the ratification of the
proceedings by the next quorate meeting.
Meetings shall close two hours from the
notified starting time, except that a
particular meeting may be temporarily
extended for a specified period with the
support of two-thirds of the members
present.
D. Quorum
i. The quorum for business meetings of (this
body) shall be 25 per cent of those
members entitled to vote in attendance
{or a fixed number to be agreed with the
regional office of the Party}.
ii. The proceedings and resolutions of any
quorate meeting shall not be held to be
invalid simply through the accidental
failure to give notice of the meeting to, or
the non-receipt of such notice by, any
person entitled to attend.
E. Entitlement to attend
i. [Alt A:] All delegates must be current
endorsed individual members of the Party
residing and registered as electors or,
exceptionally if they are not eligible to be
registered to vote, residing only within the
area covered by this Party unit. Delegates
whose details have been duly notified by
their organisations to the secretary of this
Party unit shall be entitled to attend
meetings and to vote. Only those duly
appointed delegates who have been
elected to it may attend and vote at
meetings of the Executive Committee.
[Alt B:] All members must be fully paid up
individual members of the Party residing
and registered as electors or, exceptionally
if they are not eligible to be registered to
vote, residing only within the area covered
by this Party unit. Only those members
who have been elected to it may vote at
meetings of the Executive Committee.
[Both:] When an annual or special meeting
is not held for any reason or is abandoned
without completing the business on the
agenda, such meeting must be reconvened
as soon as practicable in order for any
necessary outstanding business to be
Page 66
 transacted. Only those eligible to
participate in the meeting as first
convened, whether or not held, shall be
entitled to participate in any further
reconvened meeting.
F. Chair
i. The elected chair of this body shall preside
at all meetings, except where otherwise
provided for in the rules of the Party unit.
ii. In the absence of the chair the vice-chair
shall preside and in the absence of both
the secretary or other officer shall call on
those present to elect a member to take
the chair of the meeting. Should the office
holder arrive once a member has been
elected to preside in her or his place then
she or he may claim, if they wish, the right
to preside at the meeting once the current
item of business has been disposed of.
iii. At the annual meeting the chair shall
preside until a successor is elected, except
where the chair is not a duly appointed
delegate to the meeting; in which case the
election of chair shall be taken as the first
item on the agenda. The new chair shall
take over the conduct of the meeting
forthwith and proceed to the election of
other officers and further business.
G. Party business
i. The prime function of Party meetings is to
provide delegates and members with the
opportunity to participate in Party
activities through social contact, political
debate and policy discussion; and to
establish objectives for the Party in the
area for campaigning, the development of
Party organisation and the promotion of
links with sympathetic individuals and
bodies within the wider community.
ii. Plans for campaigning on local issues, the
development of community engagement
and the strengthening of both links and
communication with individual members,
affiliates, supporters and community
groups should be central to all business.
iii. The agenda of all Party meetings shall be
drawn up to give due priority to the Party
business highlighted above, the
endorsement and introduction of new
members and/ or delegates, the discussion
of resolutions, Party policy items and other
matters of interest to Party members and
the receipt of reports from public
representatives.
Chapter 15
Model procedural rules
iv. Nominations for delegates and
representatives to other bodies should be
sought as widely from among Party
members as possible. Wherever
practicable, any vacancies to be filled shall
be advertised to all members as they arise
and any Party member who has indicated
willingness to accept nomination shall be
considered for any post, unless otherwise
stated in the rules.
v. Party business shall in general have
precedence at all business meetings of this
body. As far as possible the officers and/
or Executive Committees should deal with
routine items of correspondence, finance
and reports from other Party bodies or
functional officers, provided that the
general meeting shall have the opportunity
to question, amend and/ or ratify any
recommendations put to them.
H. Notice of motion
i. [Alt A:] Original motions for the general
meeting of this body shall be accepted
only from Party units and organisations
entitled to appoint delegates to it and
must be received by the secretary in
writing not less than 14 days prior to the
meeting for which they are intended.
[Alt B:] Original motions for the general
meeting of this body shall be accepted
only from members entitled to attend and
participate in the meeting and must be
received by the secretary in writing not
less than 14 days prior to the meeting for
which they are intended.
[Both:] Motions for discussion shall be
made available to those entitled to attend
with the notice and agenda of the relevant
meeting, except for emergency motions
which must be sent in writing to the
secretary as soon as the nature of the
emergency allows before the
commencement of the meeting.
Emergency business may be accepted by
the majority of the meeting on the
recommendation of the chair who shall
interpret the term ‘emergency’ in a bona
fide manner.
I. Discussion of motion
i. No motion shall be discussed at a meeting
until it has been moved and seconded.
Where a motion has been submitted by a
Party unit or organisation it must be
Page 67
 moved by a delegate from that Party unit
or organisation.
ii. Speakers shall address the chair and shall
only speak once on any motion except by
permission of the chair, providing that the
mover of a motion or an amendment may
reply to the discussion without introducing
new matter for debate; such reply shall
close the discussion. No speaker shall be
allowed more than five minutes, unless
agreed by the meeting to be ‘further heard’
for a specified period.
iii. Amendments to any motion may be
moved and seconded from the floor of the
meeting but shall be handed to the
secretary in writing. Amendments shall be
taken in order with one amendment being
disposed of before another is moved. If an
amendment is carried, the amended
resolution becomes a motion to which
further amendments may be moved.
J. Procedural motions
i. A motion of ‘next business’ shall not be
taken until the mover and seconder of a
motion have been heard. Any motion ‘of
N. Chair’s ruling
next business’, ‘that the vote be taken’, ‘to
adjourn’, ‘of no-confidence in the chair’
shall be moved, seconded and put to the
vote without discussion; after such a vote
the chair need not accept a further
procedural motion for a period of 20
minutes.
K. Motion to rescind resolution
i. No motion to rescind a resolution of this
body shall be valid within three months
from the date on which the resolution was
O. Miscellaneous
carried. Notice of rescinding motion must
be given in writing and made available to
those entitled to attend the relevant
meeting in line with rule H above.
L. Voting on motions
i. Voting shall be by show of hands except
where the constitution of the Party
provides for a ballot vote or where this
body decides otherwise. In the event of
there being an equality of votes on any
matter decided by a show of hands, the
chair may give a casting vote provided that
s/he has not used an ordinary vote. If the
chair does not wish to give a casting vote,
the motion is not carried.
M. Ballot votes
i. The election of officers and/ or
representatives of this body shall be by
Chapter 15
Model procedural rules
secret paper eliminating ballot either in
rounds or by preferential vote. The
election of Executive Committee members
or large delegations may be by secret
paper ballot using a multiple vote where
members may not cast more votes than
the number of positions to be filled. Any
quotas for women laid down in the Party
constitution which apply to this body shall
be incorporated in the arrangements for
the secret ballot.
ii. Ballot votes shall be held at meetings to
select candidates and where otherwise
provided for in the Party constitution; and
where requested by any member
supported by at least two others.
iii. In the event of a tie on a secret paper
ballot the chair shall not have a casting
vote. Where appropriate, the ballot shall
be retaken and in the event of a continual
tie lots may be drawn. In a preferential
ballot the tie shall be broken by
establishing which candidate had the
highest number of first preference votes
or took the earliest lead on transfers.
i. Any breach of or question to the rules or
standing orders may be raised by a
member rising to a point of order. The
chair’s ruling on any point arising from the
rules or standing orders is final unless
challenged by not less than four members;
such a challenge shall be put to the
meeting without discussion and shall only
be carried with the support of two-thirds
of the members present.
i. Party meetings and events shall be
conducted in a friendly and orderly
manner and organised in such a way as to
maximise participation from members. No
member shall be precluded from
attendance because they cannot gain
access to the meeting place for any
reason. Harassment or intimidation of any
member is unacceptable as is any form of
discrimination on the basis of gender, age,
sexual orientation and gender identity,
disability or race. Smoking is not permitted
at any Party meeting.
ii. Any member acting in an unruly or
disruptive manner, in contravention of the
standing orders, may be removed from the
meeting by action of the chair. The chair
shall put such a motion to the meeting,
Page 68
 which to be carried shall require the
support of two-thirds of those present and
voting. Any member who has been
iv. The general provisions of the constitution
removed from two meetings during a 12-
month period shall, with the approval of
the appropriate RD(GS), be ineligible to
attend meetings of this body for the next
12 months.
iii. This Party unit accepts the principle of
minimum quotas for women at all levels of
representation within the Party and shall
take steps to ensure that 50 per cent of
any delegation shall be women and, where
only one delegate is appointed, a woman
shall hold the position at least every other
year.
and rules of the Party shall apply to this
body. No changes shall be made to the
rules and standing orders of this
organisation except at an annual or special
meeting called for this purpose and
carried with the support of two-thirds of
the members present. No alteration shall
be effective until it has received the
approval of the appropriate officer of the
NEC of the Party.

Chapter 15
Model procedural rules Page 69
APPENDICES
Appendix 1
NEC statement on the
importance of our
members
Labour is a democratic socialist Party which believes
that social change comes from a combination of
progressive government at the centre and
community action. We do not believe that social
change can be delivered solely by a top-down
approach.
That means that we value the role of our members
and our affiliated members as progressive
campaigners, community activists and social
entrepreneurs who forge positive change in their
own neighbourhoods as well as shaping and
promoting national policy.
It is our members who can inspire and engage local
people and communities.
Together our members and affiliates can create a
Party that is truly reflective of the communities we
serve; a Party able to turn outwards and find
innovative and flexible ways to encourage contact
and support from local communities, drawing in
those who share Labour’s values, and therefore
bringing a range of skills and experience into its
work. Our members and our affiliated members are
invaluable as Labour activists in building our
electoral support, arguing our case, in ensuring a
local Labour presence in every constituency, and in
being an agent for change locally, nationally, and
internationally.
Members enjoy the formal democratic rights of Party
membership as stated within the rules. Party
members have the right to participate in the formal
process of the Party, vote at Party meetings, stand
for Party office and elected office as stated within the
rules.
The Labour Party will support members seeking
selection to Parliament and take action to encourage
a greater level of representation and participation of
groups of people in our society who are currently
under-represented in our democratic institutions. In
particular, the Party will introduce a scheme to seek
to increase working class representation and select
more candidates who reflect the full diversity of our
society in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation
and disability.
Many Labour supporters are also progressive
campaigners, community activists and social
entrepreneurs who forge positive change in their
own neighbourhoods. We value this contribution and
should embrace their activism. We need dialogue
and to work in partnership with our Labour
supporters. The Party’s organisation needs to match
the way people live and reach out beyond its
membership to our Labour supporters. Staying
permanently in touch with our supporters, our local
communities and the voters we seek to serve will
mean we stay in government and are always a
contender for government.
Our members will therefore ensure we have strong
local parties who will:
 reach out into our communities beyond our
existing membership base
 engage with local trade unions and
community groups to reach out to supporters
and potential new members
 empower local leadership as the key to
leading change
 be seen as the engines of change in our
communities
 work in a way that is open and welcoming for
members and supporters
 work in a way that better reflects the priorities
of the communities in which we are based
 ensure Labour is a focal point for local
campaigns and community activism
 ensure there is a Labour presence in every
locality
 embrace the community activism that exists
across the country
 inform and encourage support for progressive
politics and policies
 actively engage with those who share our
values and who are working for
improvements
 be seen by local people as somewhere that
local concerns can be addressed, and where
people can go to help them achieve change.
Labour supporters will enjoy informal involvement
and participation: the ability to be informed, to join
with us at election times to promote Labour
candidates, to be invited to local and national events,
to hear speakers and question government
ministers, to engage at appropriate points with our
policy-making processes. Labour Supporters will be
encouraged to join the Party as full members.
Appendix 2
NEC procedural
guidelines on
membership
recruitment and
retention
Addendum to Chapter 2 Labour Party rulebook 2007
(amendment as agreed by NEC July 2006)
1. This Code of Conduct covers the recruitment and
retention of members of the Party, and the
procedures and practices to be followed. These
guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the
Party rules on Membership in Chapter 2 of the
Party Rule Book.
A. General
i. Individual members of the Party shall be
recruited into membership in accordance
with these guidelines either by the
appropriate branch, constituency, national
or regional Party, or by personal
application.
ii. All recruitment to the Party shall be in
accordance with these guidelines on
membership recruitment which shall be
issued to Party and affiliated organisations
from time to time, and need to be read in
conjunction with section two of the Party
rules on Membership.
iii. The Party is anxious to encourage the
recruitment of new members and to
ensure that new members are properly
welcomed into the Party and opportunities
offered to enable their full participation in
all aspects of Party life.
iv. The Party is, however, concerned that no
individual or faction should recruit
members improperly in order to seek to
manipulate our democratic procedures.
v. The health and democracy of the Party
depends on the efforts and genuine
participation of individuals who support
the aims of the Party, wish to join the Party
and get involved with our activities. The
recruitment of large numbers of ‘paper
members’, who have no wish to participate
except at the behest of others in an
attempt to manipulate Party processes,
Appendix 2
NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention
undermines our internal democracy and is
unacceptable to the Party as a whole.
B. Enrolment procedures
i. The following enrolment procedures shall
apply to applications for membership:
a. An application to become an
individual member:
1. may be submitted on a
membership application form by
the individual, by the appropriate
Constituency Labour Party (CLP),
or by (in the case of an application
for registered membership) an
affiliated organisation.
2. may be made by telephone or
through the Party web site.
ii. Membership application forms must be
signed where required by the applicant
and sent to the General Secretary at the
Head Office of the Party together with the
membership fee. Where membership
forms do not require a signature, or where
an application is made by telephone or
through the Party web site, the applicant
shall be deemed to have agreed to abide
by the rules and standing orders of the
Party which are available on request or
from the web-site.
iii. The payment must be submitted in a form
acceptable to the NEC. The General
Secretary shall arrange for the applicant’s
details to be recorded on the national
membership list as a provisional member.
iv. Applications for registered membership
may be checked with the affiliated
organisation concerned to confirm that the
political levy or subscription has been in
payment for at least 12 months.
v. If an application is received without a
membership fee, or the payment is in a
form unacceptable to the NEC, the
applicant shall be immediately informed of
the requirement to pay a fee before the
application can be processed.
vi. An applicant shall be issued with an
acknowledgement of provisional
membership and the details of the
constituency in which s/he resides and any
available information about the local Party
secretaries.
vii. Provisional membership rights commence
from the date of production of the
acknowledgement following the receipt of
Page 72
 the application and the appropriate approved by the NEC shall be final and
membership subscription. A provisional binding on the CLP, branch Party, the
member shall only have the right to attend General Secretary and the individual
branch meetings in a non-voting capacity. concerned.

viii. The CLP concerned shall be informed by C. Special Measures

the General Secretary of the application
i. In a constituency deemed to be in ‘special
for membership. Any objection to any
measures’ the Party will request additional
application for membership may be made
information from all applicants directly. All
by the CLP to the General Secretary within
new applicants will be asked to supply at
eight weeks of this notification. Such
least two additional forms of identification
objection may only be made by the
as proof of name and address. These may
General Meeting or Executive Committee
take the form of photocopies of utility bills,
of the CLP concerned, though such
council tax, benefit notifications, passport,
objection may initially be made on a
driving licence, student ID etc. Non-
provisional basis by a Party officer,
permanent ID should be dated within 6
pending further enquiries. Where there is
months of the application. The Party
a provisional objection within eight weeks
reserves the right to ask to see the original
of notification, a further four weeks may
document rather than a photocopy.
be allowed for an objection to be made,
and in such circumstances the applicant ii. The Party will also check whether the
will be written to by the national Party applicant is on the electoral register at the
informing them of the extension to the address given for membership, and where
period of objection. this is not the case the applicant will need
to lodge a claim for registration or provide
ix. Subject to sub paragraph (viii) above, if no
evidence of ineligibility to register (e.g. not
objection is received by the General
old enough) or evidence that they have an
Secretary within eight weeks of the
anonymous registration (some people may
notification in (viii) above, and the
register anonymously if they have good
membership fee has been received by the
reason for their details to be not
General Secretary the applicant shall be
published). This information must be
deemed to be a full Party member.
provided within 8 weeks of the date of the
x. At any time before the individual is letter of request.
accepted as a full member of the Party, the
iii. If after 4 weeks, the Party has received no
General Secretary may rule that the
response, it will write to members again
individual application for membership be
giving final notice that in a further 4 weeks
rejected for any reason which s/he sees fit.
the individuals will be removed from the
xi. In the absence of any notice of objection membership system unless information is
from the CLP as in (viii) above, and/or any provide
ruling by the General Secretary as in (x)
iv. All new members will be required to pay
above, the applicant shall, on the expiry of
using a continuous payment method at
eight weeks from the notification in (viii)
the appropriate rate. Payment must be
above, become a full member. The
from their own bank account unless there
provisional member shall then be
are exceptional circumstances.
transferred to the national membership
list as a full member as soon as is v. Once all required documents are received
practicable. the Party will have a maximum of 8 weeks
in which to respond to applicants. This will
xii. The reasons for the rejection of an
include a check by the CLP that where
application for membership by the
reduced rates are applied for, additional
General Secretary or the objection by the
evidence to support this will be required;
CLP to the application for membership
this may include trade union membership
must be sent to the individual applicant at
card, JSA confirmation, wage slip or other
the address given. S/he shall have the right
appropriate documentation.
of individual written appeal to the NEC.
Such appeal shall be considered and dealt vi. If no response is provided within this
with by the Disputes Panel of the NEC in timeframe the applicant will be admitted
any manner in which it shall see fit and the into membership.
decision of the Disputes Panel once

Appendix 2
NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention Page 73
 vii. In circumstances where individuals fail to
meet any of these criteria the application
will be considered to be incomplete and
will not be progressed further.
viii. Membership will be audited annually to
ensure that individual’s membership
remains in compliance.
ix. CLPs in special measures will be reviewed
on a 6 monthly basis by the Governance
and Legal Unit to ensure that all processes
are kept up to date and CLPs do not
remain in special measures longer than
necessary.
D. Move of residence
i. In the event of a member moving
residence to another constituency that
member shall immediately inform Head
Office who shall transfer the member to
the relevant constituency and inform that
CLP. If a transferring member makes
contact with their new CLP with proof of
membership, the appropriate CLP officer
shall inform Head Office.
ii. Membership rights within the new
constituency shall commence from the
date on which the transfer is recorded by
Head Office unless an objection to the
acceptance of the transfer is raised within
eight weeks of the transfer date. Where
there is a provisional objection within eight
weeks of notification, a further four weeks
may be allowed for an objection to be
made, and in such circumstances the
applicant will be written to by the national
Party informing them of the extension to
the period of objection.
iii. In the case of an objection the member
concerned has the right of individual
appeal to the NEC, whose decision shall be
final.
iv. In the event of a member moving to
another branch in the same constituency
that member shall inform the new branch
secretary and provide evidence of
membership. Head Office shall be
informed of the change of address.
E. Method of Payment
i. Members are advised to pay their
subscriptions directly to Head Office.
However, payments may be made by local
collection. Members may opt to pay
subscriptions by means of regular
contributions throughout the year or a
number of years in advance by
Appendix 2
NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention
arrangement with Head Office. All
membership fees shall be divided between
the national and constituency parties in
the ratio prescribed under section 2 of this
clause as they are received at Head Office.
ii. Subscriptions paid through local collectors
may be deemed as having been received
by the Party only when such payments
arrive at Head Office. It shall be regarded
as an act grossly detrimental to the Party
to withhold membership payments
collected locally.
F. Membership year
i. A membership year shall be defined as 12
months from the date of joining the Party.
All members shall be issued with a card
supplied by the NEC which shall indicate
the expiry of their membership year and
the subscription rate paid.
G. Arrears and lapsed members
i. An individual member shall be deemed to
be in arrears from the expiry date until
they renew their subscription.
ii. An individual member shall be deemed to
have lapsed from membership if s/he has
been in arrears for six months and has not
paid following a request to pay the arrears.
iii. Once lapsed, previous members may
reactivate their membership by paying the
current minimum annual subscription,
subject to the endorsement procedure in
1.B above.
iv. Following such endorsement the General
Secretary may agree to grant continuous
membership to cover the lapsed period on
the payment of any outstanding
subscriptions for that period by the
member concerned. In coming to a
decision on granting continuity the
General Secretary may refer the matter to
the disputes panel of the NEC whose
decision shall be final in all cases.
v. Where it is clear there has been an
administrative processing error, continuity
of membership will be granted to lapsed
members on payment of arrears and
current subscription.
vi. Continuity of membership shall only be
granted in exceptional circumstances and
not in any instance where a member has
been lapsed for longer than 12 months.
vii. Where there is agreement between the
CLP and the Party that there were special
Page 74
 circumstances which led to a member
being inadvertently lapsed, continuity of
membership will be granted on payment
of arrears plus authorisation of direct
debit mandate for future payments.
viii. No person deemed to have lapsed from
membership shall have any rights to
participate in Party decision-making until
membership has been fully reactivated.
Members in arrears may only participate
on the basis that they intend to renew
their membership within the given period.
H. Procedural code for CLPs
i. Applications could be regarded as falling
into the following broad categories:
a. Those who volunteer to pay the full
subscription rate.
1. CLPs should check the
constitutional requirements on:
a. electoral registration
b. trade union membership
I.
2. Providing any questions on these
can be resolved and there are no
other local objections, members in
this category should be ‘inducted’
as soon as possible.
b. Those who claim ‘reduced-rate’ or
‘levy-plus’ status. For these
applications a more rigorous check
may be considered necessary:
1. electoral registration in the
constituency is a requirement of
Party rules, except in special
circumstances. A check of the
register that reveals non-
registration should be followed up
with an enquiry to seek an
explanation* and to obtain a claim
for registration where appropriate.
If no satisfactory explanation is
received then membership should
be withheld.
2. if the applicant is on the electoral
register then the following may
also be pursued:
a. ‘reduced-rate’ applicants – is
the category for which
membership is claimed clear,
and does this require any
further verification? If so, an
explanation s h o u ld be sought
and an assurance of good faith
Appendix 2
NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention
from the applicant obtained
where appropriate.
b. ‘levy-plus’ applicants – is ‘levy-
plus’ status verified by the
affiliated organisation
concerned? If not, the
application shall be referred to
the affiliate to confirm this and
if unconfirmed the applicant
should be invited to pay full
subscription.
ii. If the above conditions are met then the
application shall be accepted subject to
any other local objection. CLPs must note
that it is their responsibility to make any
local checks deemed necessary. If
branches are to be involved in the process
this must be done within the eight week
auto-endorsement period, unless an
extension of four weeks has been granted
as in B(viii) or C(ii) above, as referral to a
branch shall not on its own be accepted as
a reason to delay auto-endorsement.
Follow-up procedures by CLPs
i. Any CLP facing large numbers of
applications at the ‘reduced’ or ‘levy-plus’
rates is likely to require a team of people
willing and able to carry through the
recommended checks. Where there are
ethnic minority applicants, it is helpful that
this team should include members who
understand the languages and culture of
the communities involved. In any case the
team should act in a ‘women friendly’ and
non-intimidating manner.
ii. This team, through the membership
secretary, would benefit from developing a
good working relationship with the
Membership Processing Assistant who
deals with the processing for the particular
constituency, the efficient follow-through
of the monthly report would help in early
identification and speedy resolution of any
problems. The NEC takes the view that the
eight week endorsement period is ample
to carry out local checks in the vast
majority of cases. The eight weeks may be
extended in certain cases, such as election
periods or holiday periods, but only where
the CLP has identified a particular
problem.
iii. The investigating team should also be
involved in arranging proper induction for
new members which would involve
explanatory material on the operation of
the Party locally and encouragement to
Page 75
 become involved both politically and
socially. All parties should organise ‘new
member’ evenings and other activities
aimed at involving recent applicants in
their work.

iv. It is important that the above process is

seen as an opportunity to explain the
Party’s rules and requirements and to
involve potential activists, not simply as a
blocking mechanism. It is clear, however,
that the NEC shall support any CLP, which
operates the checking procedures as
outlined and has thereby identified any
abuse of the membership system.

J. Access to membership lists

i. The following members shall have access

to membership lists:

a. For CLP’s: Vice Chair/Membership and

CLP Secretary, or other designated
CLP officers

b. For Branches: Secretary or other

designated branch officer

c. For LCF’s: Secretary or other

designated LCF officer, where
required for selection purposes

d. MP’s, MEP’s, members of devolved

bodies, elected mayors, councillors,
Labour Group leaders on principal
authorities, for the area they
represent

e. Members of Party staff appointed by

the NEC

ii. Misuse of information contained within

the membership lists could be a breach of
the Data Protection Act, and should be
reported immediately to the Data
Protection Officer at Head Office.

Appendix 2
NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention Page 76
Appendix 3
NEC procedures for
the selection of
Parliamentary
Candidates following
the boundary review
commenced 2016
Clause I.
Introduction & Background
1. UK parliamentary constituency boundaries are
being reviewed by the Boundary Commissions
prior to the next scheduled general election in
May 2020.
2. The Party will adopt a national position that will
be outlined in the Party’s submissions to the
Boundary Commissions’ consultation.
3. Sitting MPs and CLP representatives will be
consulted as part of the process for agreeing a
final position to be signed off by the NEC. Once
agreed, all parts of the Party are expected to
support the national position.
4. Following the publication of revised proposals for
new boundaries in late 2016, the Party will begin
the process of reforming CLPs and selecting
parliamentary candidates.
5. The following section sets out the procedures for
selections of parliamentary candidates among
sitting MPs following the boundary review.
6. The first round of selections of parliamentary
candidates for the new constituencies shall be
concerned with resolving claims based on
territorial interests among sitting Labour MPs.
7. Once those claims are resolved, the NEC shall
determine the process for filling vacancies in
notional Labour seats where territorial claims
have not been exercised. This is the second
round of selections.
8. In so doing, the NEC may, at its discretion, ensure
that sitting Labour MPs who have been displaced
following the first round of selections are
guaranteed the right to apply and be short listed
for at least one new constituency being contested
in the second round where they do not have a
territorial interest.
Appendix 3
NEC procedures for the selection of Parliamentary Candidates following the boundary review commenced 2016
9. The NEC understands that this boundary review,
which is inspired by the partisan aims of the
present government, will cause significant
disruption to traditional patterns of
representation. However, the NEC values unity
and collective action, and urges all Labour
representatives to meet this political challenge in
a spirit of solidarity.
10. All other parliamentary candidate selections will
take place according to the standard procedures,
as far as possible in an order of priority based on
‘win-ability’ within Party regions as determined by
the RD(GS), unless otherwise authorised by the
NEC.
Clause II. Trigger ballots of sitting
MPs
1. Sitting MPs who do not have constituency
boundary changes shall face a trigger vote in
their existing constituency unless otherwise
determined by the NEC. If, by the date set, a
majority of those Party units and affiliated
branches (that make an indication) indicate a
preference not to proceed to a full selection
process, the MP concerned shall be deemed to be
selected as prospective parliamentary candidate
for the constituency concerned subject to NEC
endorsement.
2. If a majority of Party units and affiliated branches
(that make an indication) determine that they
wish the ballot to be opened up then a full open
selection will be postponed until Phase IV of the
trigger ballots (as per 3.F.iv below) has been
completed.
3. Where sitting MP’s have constituency boundary
changes:
A. The General Secretary will invite sitting MPs to
indicate which, if any, constituencies they wish
to seek selection for. MPs who do not have
any territorial interest in a seat cannot be
considered for selection for a seat that has an
MP(s) with a territorial interest seeking re-
selection, unless the decision of the CLP in the
trigger ballot is to move to an open selection.
B. An MP with a substantial territorial interest in
a new constituency may seek selection for
that constituency as a matter of right.
C. For the purposes of reselection, a substantial
territorial interest is defined as 40 per cent or
more of registered electors of the previous
parliamentary constituency as at the freeze
date transferring to the new parliamentary
constituency.
Page 77
 D. Any sitting MP who has a territorial interest in
a new parliamentary constituency, but not to
the extent of 40 per cent, may nonetheless at
the discretion of the NEC seek selection for
that parliamentary constituency.
E. In exercising that discretion, the NEC shall
guarantee that any sitting MP who has no
substantial territorial interest in any new
constituency has the right to seek selection for
the new constituency in which they have their
greatest territorial interest.
F. Any sitting MP representing any part of a new
constituency and therefore with a territorial
interest should be informed of the timetable
and the procedure and be supplied with a list
of secretaries of nominating organisations.
Ballots for resolving territorial claims in the
first round of selections shall, where possible,
be conducted in four phases as follows:
i. Phase I - two MPs seeking selection in a
seat where they both have a substantial
territorial interest.
a. Where two MPs with a substantial
territorial interest (40 per cent or
more) are seeking selection in the
same constituency, a OMOV postal
ballot of eligible members will
determine which, if any, is selected as
the final candidate.
b. If, however, 50 per cent or more of
the eligible members casting a vote
determine that they would prefer the
ballot to be opened up to a full
selection, then a full open selection
will take place once Phase IV of the
trigger ballots has been completed.
ii. Phase II - selections where more than one
MP with a territorial interest expresses an
interest in a seat, and at least one of the
MPs’ interests is NOT a substantial
territorial interest.
a. MPs with a substantial territorial
interest and/or those with less than a
40 per cent substantial territorial
interest whom the NEC has
determined can contest the selection
will go forward to a OMOV postal
ballot of eligible members to
determine which, if any, is selected as
the final candidate.
b. If, however, 50 per cent or more of
the eligible members casting a vote
determine that they would prefer the
ballot to be opened up to a full
selection, then a full open selection
Appendix 3
NEC procedures for the selection of Parliamentary Candidates following the boundary review commenced 2016
will take place once Phase IV of the
trigger ballots has been completed.
iii. Phase III - one MP only seeking selection in
a seat in which they have a substantial
territorial interest.
a. Subject to paragraphs D and E above,
if only one MP has a substantial
territorial interest in the new
constituency and is nominated by a
majority of Party units and affiliated
organisations as set out in paragraph
2 above, the MP concerned shall be
deemed to be selected subject to
endorsement by the NEC. If however,
the one MP with a substantial
territorial interest fails to reach a
majority of Party units and affiliated
organisations then a full open
selection will be postponed until
Phase IV of the trigger ballots has
been completed.
iv. Phase IV - one MP seeking selection in a
seat in which they have less than a
substantial territorial interest.
a. If only one MP with less than a 40 per
cent substantial territorial interest in
the new parliamentary constituency,
who has the permission of the NEC to
contest the selection trigger ballot, is
nominated by a majority of Party units
and affiliated organisations as set out
in paragraph 2 above, the MP
concerned shall be deemed to be
selected subject to endorsement by
the NEC.
b. If however, the one MP with less than
a substantial territorial interest fails to
reach a majority of Party units and
affiliated organisations then a full
open selection will be postponed until
Phase IV of the trigger ballots has
been completed.
4. Hustings meeting/s will be held, and canvassing
allowed, at all those selections involving more
than one MP based on a OMOV postal ballot of
eligible members.
5. Sitting MPs who have been re-selected through
this process shall not be eligible to seek selection
in any other constituency, except where there are
exceptional circumstances which are agreed by
the NEC. The NEC will issue procedural guidelines
on the management of trigger ballots and OMOV
postal ballots outlined above.
Page 78
Clause III. Timetable for
parliamentary selections among
sitting MPs
1. The following timescale is an outline of events as
agreed by the NEC, and will be subject to
alteration by the NEC according to the situation
pertaining at any given time.
Date Event
Jan 2018 Invitations for expressions of interest
sent to sitting MPs – deadline end of
Jan/early Feb
Determine list of non-Labour held seats
with no existing MP with a territorial
claim – These seats select from July
2018
Jan–Mar18 Reorganise CLPs
Mar–Jul18 Begin trigger ballots and selections of
sitting MPs (round one)
Once completed, begin selections in
notional vacant constituencies (round
two) and all other seats where there is
no candidate (round three)
2. For the purposes of all other selections, freeze
dates for individual membership eligibility and
constituency delegates and affiliations shall be
established in agreement with the RD(GS). All
affiliations and delegations to CLPs and
membership lists to be used in the course of this
procedure shall be frozen at these dates together
with the percentage of the CLP membership
contained within each Party branch. In deciding
on a freeze-date to establish eligibility to
participate, the RD(GS) shall have regard to the
state of membership of the CLP and any prima
facie evidence of abuse of the code of conduct for
membership recruitment and any other factors
which the RD(GS) may think relevant.
3. No new or increased affiliations or filling of
vacancies in delegations may be accepted for the
purposes of this procedure after the freeze date
until the selection is completed – except for
changes of Labour Party Branch Secretaries.
4. Any new Party unit or affiliated organisation
established after the freeze date shall not be
allowed representation on the General
Committee during the selection procedure.

Dec 2018 Aim for all selections to be commenced

Clause IV. Freeze dates

1. Where there is a re-selection process for a sitting
Labour MP(s) immediately following the
boundary review, the freeze date for registered
electors –for the purposes of calculating
territorial interests – shall be 1 December 2015.
The freeze date for individual membership
eligibility and constituency delegates and
affiliations shall be the date at which the
designated representative meets with the
executive committee (General Committee/All
Member meeting if no executive is in place) to
draw up a timetable. Where the NEC determines
there are special circumstances, or when there is
an unforeseen delay to the commencement of
the process, a different freeze date for the
membership and affiliates may be fixed by the
NEC.

Appendix 3
NEC procedures for the selection of Parliamentary Candidates following the boundary review commenced 2016 Page 79
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for
the selection of local
government
Candidates
These procedural rules supplement Chapter 5 of the
Party rule book – selections for election to public
B. Positive action procedures
office, and provide a framework for Local Campaign
Forums (LCFs) and Constituency Labour Parties
(CLPs) to follow when conducting selections of local
government candidates.
Local Campaign Forums and CLPs must also follow
the good practice advice on these procedures as
provided from time to time by the NEC.
A. Selection timetable
i. The executive of the Local Campaign
Forum (‘LCF’) shall prepare a timetable for
the selection procedure. All timetables
and/or any variance to any of the selection
procedures must be approved by the
RD(GS) or other national officer as
determined by the General Secretary on
behalf of the NEC.
ii. The timetable should be set so that, as far
as possible, candidates are selected six
months in advance of the election (12
months where the council elects on a two
or four yearly cycle).
iii. The timetable should identify various
stages as follows:
a. invitation for nominations to the
panel of approved candidates
b. initial closing date for receipt of
nominations
c. proposed interviewing procedure for
those who require an interview
d. date of LCF to decide on endorsement
of initial applications
e. submission of initial list of approved
nominees (‘the panel’) to CLPs and
ward selection committees
f. the agreed order for selection
meetings (i.e. first priority to Labour
seats, second to winnable seats and
last to other seats)
g. date for reopening of endorsement
procedure, where this is appropriate
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
h. final date for completion of selections.
iv. The panel remains in existence following
an election until a new panel is nominated
and endorsed. The panel is therefore
available for any by-elections in this
period. This later date (iii.g above) is so
that LCFs can plan for a period without
new endorsements whilst high priority
selections are taking place. The panel
cannot be closed as such so all
nominations must be dealt with at an
appropriate time.
i. For authorities with all-out elections
a. The Regional Director (or
General Secretary in Scotland
and Wales) will agree a list of
winnable wards with the LCF
b. In winnable wards with two or
three members, at least one
candidate must be a woman
c. For selection in a winnable
ward, the ballot will take place
in two parts. The first ballot will
select a woman from the
shortlist and the second ballot
will select the remaining
candidates from the entire
shortlist.
d. If the ward fails to implement
these positive action
procedures then the selection
will be invalid and the RD(GS)
will require the ward to re-run
its selection procedures.
ii. For authorities with elections where one
third or one half of seats are up for
election
a. In all winnable wards/divisions where
a sitting councillor is retiring, at least
one other councillor or candidate
must be a woman.
b. If there are more women retirees
than men then the current proportion
of women candidates must be
maintained.
iii. For each local authority area the RD(GS)
will:
a. agree a list of winnable seats with the
LCF; and
b. determine which winnable seats will
be selected from an all-woman
Page 80
 shortlist and which from an open
shortlist.
c. If a ward fails to implement the
agreed positive action procedure then
the selection will be invalid and the
RD(GS) will require that the ward to
re-run its selection process.
iv. The RD(GS) has the authority to vary the
arrangements within a given ward due to
what they regard as exceptional
circumstances, provided reciprocal
arrangements are made to ensure that the
overall level of women’s representation is
achieved.
C. Panel of approved candidates
i. The LCF will invite nominations for the
Panel of Candidates which will be in the
form of self-nominations using an official
nomination form produced by the LCF. The
form may include a number of questions
(as well as a section for personal details) as
approved by the LCF executive, but must
include an undertaking to abide by the
Party’s rules and procedures relating to
local government candidature and by the
standing orders for the Labour group if
elected.
ii. The LCF must ensure that all eligible
members are informed of their right to
self-nominate to the panel of approved
candidates together with details of the
timetable described in section 1 above.
D. Qualification of nominees
i. Each nominee must be an individual
member of the Party, in accordance with
the conditions of membership which
include, where applicable, membership of
an appropriate trade union.
ii. Each nominee must have paid the Party
membership contribution at the
appropriate rate and have at least 12
months’ continuous national individual
membership of the Party in the electoral
area concerned at the date of nomination.
This 12 month continuous membership
and residency qualification may be waived
in exceptional circumstances to be decided
by the LCF and endorsed by the RD(GS) on
behalf of the NEC.
iii. All nominees must undertake, if elected, to
accept and conform to the standing orders
of the appropriate Labour group as
approved by the NEC.
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
iv. Nominees must be legally qualified, and
not disqualified, to stand for the local
authority at the election concerned. It is
required of LCFs that they take steps to
check on disqualifications under the
relevant legislation as well as any Party
requirements when compiling their panel
of prospective candidates.
v. Sitting councillors must be nominated and
considered for endorsement and selection
in accordance with the provisions set out
in section E.ii.A.1 below, unless varied by
section F.i.A. below.
vi. If a sitting councillor, the nominee must
also have paid their annual elected
representatives levy, and be fully paid up
to date with their Party membership
subscriptions at the standard rate and pay
by direct debit.
vii. Sitting councillors who have had the
Labour group whip withdrawn from them
indefinitely are not eligible for
membership of any panel.
viii. This Party shall not accept as qualified for
inclusion in its panel of approved
candidates any sitting councillor whose
sole legal qualification for standing for
election in the local government area is
existing service as a councillor.
E. Endorsement of applicants to the panel of
approved candidates
i. All applicants recommended for inclusion
in its panel of candidates must be
submitted to a meeting of the LCF
concerned.
ii. There are three ways that applicants will
be considered for membership of the
approved panel of candidates. The
particular method of approval depends
upon the individual circumstances of the
applicant as set out below:
a. Sitting councillor
1. To be reviewed by a written form
from the chief whip regarding
discipline and attendance, and by
a written report from the branch
secretary covering the ward they
represent. An update form should
be completed should
circumstances have changed since
a previous application form was
completed. The LCF Officers, or a
panel duly authorised by the LCF,
may request an interview if the
Page 81
 reports raise concerns about
discipline, attendance,
campaigning record or
competence. An interview shall be
undertaken at least once every
two terms for sitting councillors,
and an RD(GS) may determine all
councillors in any authority should
be interviewed each time they
seek reselection. Should they feel
the circumstance dictate, the
RD(GS) may instruct the LCF that
an interview is undertaken and
must give such reasons in writing.
Should an interview not be
requested, the sitting councillor
will be recommended for inclusion
on the panel without interview.
Should an interview be required,
this will be undertaken by an
assessment team.
b. Recent candidate who had not been
elected
1. To be reviewed by a written report
confirming there has been no
change in circumstances and
updating the applicant’s campaign
and Party record. It will require an
endorsement of the application by
the branch in which they reside
and the CLP campaign coordinator
or similar officer. The LCF Officers,
or a panel duly authorised by the
LCF, may request an interview if
the report raises concerns about
their campaigning record or
competence. Should they feel the
circumstance dictate, the RD(GS)
may instruct the LCF that an
interview is undertaken and must
give such reasons in writing.
Should an interview not be
requested, the applicant will be
recommended for inclusion on the
panel without interview. Should an
interview be required, this will be
undertaken by an assessment
team.
c. New applicant
1. By completion of the nomination
form and a full interview by an
assessment team.
iii. An assessment team, which will be drawn
up by the LCF with the agreement of the
RD(GS) in line with NEC recommendations,
will carry out interviews for applicants
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
where required. At the discretion of the
RD(GS), the assessment team may be
required to include assessors from outside
of the local authority area. Assessment
teams are required to include chairs who
are Party members from outside of the
local authority area. Assessment team
members may not interview or assess any
candidate who is their own husband, wife,
civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother,
sister, child, grandchild or other close
family member.
iv. The assessment team will supply a
decision sheet to each nominee following
their assessment interview. The
assessment team will prepare a report for
the LCF on which candidates they are
recommending to endorse. The LCF may
refuse endorsement as it thinks fit to any
candidate recommended for acceptance
by the assessment team, on a secret ballot
of eligible delegates at a duly notified
meeting. The suitability of candidates for
endorsement is a matter of judgement by
members of the LCF. Candidates not
endorsed by the assessment team will be
given reasons for such decision.
v. The LCF shall not endorse any candidate
the assessment team have interviewed
and not recommended for endorsement.
However, the individual concerned (or the
organisation responsible for their
nomination) may appeal within 14 days of
receiving written notice against the refusal
of the assessment team or LCF
endorsement to the appeals panel of the
appropriate regional board, who where
practicable shall hear the appeal within 14
days.
vi. Such appeals shall be to establish the
suitability or otherwise of the nominee for
inclusion in the panel of candidates and on
this basis the panel established to hear the
appeal shall consider submissions from
the appellant and representatives of the
LCF concerned. The panel shall receive any
submissions from both sides in the
presence of the other and, within reason,
witnesses may be called to support the
submissions. A reasonable opportunity
shall be given for witnesses and
submissions to be questioned by either
side. The panel may conduct the appeal
hearing as a re-interview should they
consider this is required by the
circumstances. Should any appeal be
conducted by the panel as a re-interview
Page 82
 then, in the absence of any express
decision to the contrary by the panel, the
result of such a re-interview shall
constitute the final determination of the
appeal. When an appeal hearing against
withdrawal of endorsement is heard, the
hearing may be conducted where the
panel consider it appropriate solely in
relation to the changed circumstances
leading to the LCF withdrawal of
endorsement. The panel shall also rule on
any procedural issues. The decision of the
appeals panel shall be final and binding on
all parties in accordance with the rules for
local government selections. The reasons
for the decision shall remain confidential
to the panel concerned.
F. Authority to vary assessment procedures
i. The RD(GS) may, with the agreement of
the LCF and the endorsement of the NEC,
vary the assessment procedures in the
following ways:
a. waive section E.ii.A.i above and/or
section E.ii.B.i above to allow for all
recent candidates to be interviewed
before endorsement;
b. waive the requirement in section
E.ii.A.i or E.ii.B.i above for the branch
secretaries to submit a written report
to the LCF if this is not appropriate
due to local circumstances. Such a
waiver shall apply for all applicants.
G. Withdrawal of endorsement from a member
of the approved panel
i. The LCF may withdraw its endorsement of
any nominee if, in its opinion, there are
changed circumstances relating to that
nominee including failure to meet the
requirements of the candidate’s contract.
Again, the individual concerned (or the
organisation responsible for her/his
nomination) may appeal within 14 days of
receiving written notice against such
withdrawal of endorsement to the appeals
panel of the regional board who where
practicable shall hear the appeal within 14
days on the same basis as in section E.vi
above.
H. Rights and responsibilities of members of the
approved panel of candidates
i. Potential candidates who are on the
approved panel of candidates are entitled
to a list of ward secretaries from the
Secretary of the LCF. Once shortlisted by a
ward, potential candidates will be entitled
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
to a list of eligible members for that ward
from the CLP Secretary. In order to receive
this list, potential candidates will have to
pay the relevant CLP an administration
charge as set out in the code of conduct.
ii. The NEC maintains a code of conduct that
applies to all candidates at all stages of this
process including candidates applying to
the panel of approved candidates.
I. Shortlisting and selection
i. Insufficient nominations
a. In the event of an insufficient number
of valid nominations, the LCF
executive shall have power to take
whatever action may be necessary to
meet the situation and ensure that
there are Labour candidates available
to contest any election to the
appropriate authority.
b. In cases of dispute the matter shall be
submitted to the LCF whose decision
shall be final.
ii. Shortlisting and selection meetings –
general
a. Shortlisting and selection meetings
shall be convened by the Executive
Committee of the CLP concerned after
consultation with and in accordance
with the timetable (referred to in
A.iii.F above) laid down by the
executive of the LCF. This is to ensure
that meetings are convened on a
priority basis so that candidates are
selected first for Labour-held and
winnable seats.
b. Notice of such meetings must be sent
to all members entitled to attend. The
notice shall state the business to be
conducted and give appropriate
details of the procedure to be
adopted.
c. Notice of such meeting shall include
notice of any positive action
procedures as agreed under section B
above, i.e. whether at least one
woman candidate is to be selected or
the candidate will be selected from an
all-woman shortlist
d. Notice of such meetings shall be sent
out at least seven days in advance,
except in an emergency where the
LCF executive has approved a
contracted timetable for a particular
selection.
Page 83
 e. Where only one branch is involved,
notices shall be sent out by the
branch secretary on the instructions
of the CLP secretary. Where more
than one branch is involved, the CLP
secretary shall be responsible for
sending out the notice. Where more
than one constituency is involved, the
LCF secretary shall be directly
responsible for convening such
meetings on the instructions of the
LCF executive.
f. Such meetings shall comprise only
those fully paid-up individual
members of the Party who are
registered as electors or who reside in
the electoral area concerned. Where
this is impractical (for instance on the
grounds of geography or travelling
involved) the RD(GS) shall act on
behalf of the NEC to approve
arrangements for a special meeting of
delegates appointed by branches
within that electoral area.
g. Only those members who have been
a member for at least 6 months are
eligible to attend any meeting in this
procedure. A freeze date for
calculating this 6-month eligibility may
be set by the LCF with the approval of
the RD(GS). If no such freeze date is
set the 6 months shall be counted
from the date of the first meeting
convened to discuss a shortlist for a
particular electoral area.
h. A meeting in this procedure may be
attended by not more than three
representatives of the LCF executive
who shall act in an advisory capacity
without voting power. Any CLP
concerned may send one member of
their Executive Committee as an
observer.
i. The LCF shall decide the number of
members who shall comprise a
necessary quorum for these
meetings, which must be reviewed
prior to each round of elections,
subject to the agreement of the
RD(GS).
j. A list of eligible members for such
meetings shall be provided by the CLP
secretaries involved from information
supplied by the national membership
system. Where appropriate a check
against such list shall be made at the
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
door and membership cards and/or
other credentials shall be examined.
At the commencement of the meeting
the opportunity shall be given for the
eligibility of any member present to
be challenged. The LCF
representatives present shall rule on
the eligibility of any member over
which the meeting is not satisfied. The
notice of the meetings should indicate
by when and where subscriptions
should be brought up to date to
ensure eligibility.
iii. Shortlisting procedure
a. The list of nominees endorsed by the
LCF (‘the panel’) shall be sent to CLPs
for forwarding to the meetings of
individual members covering the
electoral areas where selections have
been approved.
b. The shortlisting procedure shall
incorporate any positive action
procedures as agreed under section B
above.
c. Those in attendance at the special
shortlisting meeting convened as
above shall decide which of the
nominees shall be invited to the
subsequent selection meeting.
d. Once a member has been nominated
or expresses an interest in being
nominated s/he must withdraw from
the meeting and take no further part
in it.
e. Where a vote is to be taken at a
shortlisting meeting the following
procedure must be adopted:
1. Members present shall be invited
to make nominations from those
names on the approved panel of
candidates. Nominations should
be moved and seconded.
2. Once all desired nominations have
been made, those that have been
moved and seconded shall be
confirmed to the meeting and
nominations closed.
3. When nominations have closed
the meeting shall decide whether
to reselect each sitting councillor
in turn or proceed to an open
shortlisting and selection for each
seat. It is not acceptable to
shortlist only the number of
Page 84
 candidates who are ultimately to 1. Lots should be drawn for the
be selected, unless either: order of appearance before the
meeting of the shortlisted
a. the shortlist comprises only
nominees. (This may be done in
sitting councillors for the
advance.)
electoral area concerned who
are seeking re-election to the 2. Each shortlisted nominee in
relevant authority, or attendance should be invited to
address the meeting and answer
b. only that number have been
questions for the specified period
nominated at the
of time which shall be the same
commencement of the
for all nominees.
procedure.
3. In the event of a nominee not
4. In all other cases the meeting
being in attendance and having
must agree to invite at least one
indicated a continued interest in
more nominee than the number of
the selection, her/his name shall
candidates to be ultimately
remain in the ballot.
selected and normally a greater
choice should be ensured for the 4. Once all nominees in attendance
subsequent selection meeting. have addressed the meeting and
answered questions the meeting
5. Once the number to be shortlisted
shall consider a procedural motion
has been agreed, if required, the
‘to proceed to ballot’. If members
meeting should proceed to a vote
are dissatisfied with the shortlist
using an eliminating ballot until
as presented they shall vote
only the number required to be
against the motion and a secret
shortlisted remain.
ballot shall be held if one is
6. Following the result of the ballot requested by any member.
the meeting should agree the
5. If the ‘proceed to ballot’ motion is
period of time to be offered to
not carried then the meeting may
each nominee to address the
suggest new dates for shortlisting
selection meeting and answer
and selection to be agreed by the
questions and agree any other
CLP Executive Committee, or they
arrangements necessary. These
may proceed to draw up a new
agreed arrangements shall be
shortlist. Any new selection
communicated to the shortlisted
meetings shall be convened in
nominees.
accordance with the procedure
f. If the required quorum is not present above.
at a shortlisting meeting, then the
6. If it is agreed to ballot, then the
meeting should proceed to draw up a
method of balloting will depend on
shortlist which shall then be put to
whether or not the ward is subject
the subsequent selection meeting for
to positive action procedures as
approval or rejection before the
set out in section B above. Where
business of that selection meeting
at least one woman candidate
may commence.
must be selected from a multi-seat
g. Any member arriving at the selection then a two-part ballot
shortlisting meeting after shall be held in accordance with
consideration of the shortlist has section viii below. In all other cases
commenced shall be ineligible to take the ballot will proceed as set out in
part or to vote and this should be section vii below.
made clear in the notice convening
7. Where there is no positive action
the meeting.
requirement, or you are selecting
iv. Selection procedure candidate(s) from an all women
shortlist in line with positive action
a. The following procedure should be
procedures, the ballot shall be
adopted at the special selection
held as follows:
meeting:

Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates Page 85
 a. There shall be a secret paper
eliminating ballot. Members
may vote for as many as, or
less than, the number of
candidates required to be
selected.
8. Where there is a requirement to
select at least one woman
candidate from a multi-seat
selection, the vote to decide which
nominees shall be selected as
candidates shall be held as
follows:
a. The ballot will be held in two
parts. The first ballot will select
a woman candidate (or two
women candidates, if two seats
are set aside for women) from
amongst those women
nominees on the shortlist. If
there is only one woman
nominee (or two where two
seats are set aside for women)
then that woman or women
will be deemed selected. The
second ballot will select the
remaining candidate(s) from all
shortlisted nominees with the
exception of the woman
candidate(s) selected in the
part one ballot.
b. Voting in both ballots shall be a
secret paper eliminating ballot.
In the first ballot, members
may cast one vote to select one
woman candidate (or up to two
votes where two seats have
been set aside for women). In
the second ballot members
may vote for as many as, or
less than, the number of
candidates required to be
selected.
9. A successful candidate must have
an overall majority of votes cast.
Spoilt and blank papers shall be
deducted from the total number
of ballot papers returned before
deciding whether a nominee has a
clear majority.
10. Should no nominee have an
overall majority, the nominee at
the bottom of the poll shall be
eliminated from the next round of
voting together with any others
whose votes added to those of
Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
nominees lower in the poll do not
equal the number of votes cast for
the nominee immediately above.
11. Where there is more than one
candidate to be selected the
eliminating ballot must continue
removing the name(s) with the
lowest votes until only the number
required to be selected remain.
12. Where there is a tie at the bottom
of any ballot and the two (or more)
votes added together are equal to
or more than the next vote above,
a separate ballot shall be held to
break the tie and decide which
nominee shall be eliminated from
the following round.
13. If there is a tie on the final round
of any ballot, the chair is not
allowed a casting vote so a further
ballot must be held to determine
the result. Before taking this
further ballot the nominees tying
may be recalled separately for a
further period of questions. If
there is still a tie then a fresh
selection meeting shall be
convened
14. If after a further meeting no
decision is reached there shall be
a joint meeting convened on the
same basis as in xvi below.
15. No shortlisted nominee shall take
part or vote as a member of the
branch in the selection meeting
unless they have formally
withdrawn from the selection.
16. If the required quorum is not
present at a selection meeting
then the selection of the
candidate(s) shall be deferred to a
subsequent joint meeting of those
individual members eligible to
attend the first meeting plus
members of the Executive
Committee of the CLP concerned
who are registered as electors
within the area of operation of the
LCF and who have the 6-month
membership qualification.
Executive members who have an
interest in the outcome of the
selection shall not participate in
this joint meeting. Such a meeting
shall proceed however many
members are present. However,
Page 86
 the Executive Committee
members present at the deferred
meeting shall have the right to
vote in any ballot only if again
insufficient members from the
electoral area concerned attend to
form a quorum.

17. Any member arriving at the

selection meeting after the first
nominee has started to address it
shall be ineligible to take part or to
vote and this should be made
clear in the notice convening the
meeting.

18. In the case of any dispute arising

in connection with a selection it
shall be referred to the LCF whose
decision shall be final.

v. Exceptional selections

a. In the event of a local government by-

election occurring within a
constituency, the Executive
Committee of the CLP concerned shall
consult with the executive of the
appropriate LCF and the officers of
any branches concerned to ensure
that the vacancy is contested by the
Party. Wherever possible a selection
should be made in accordance with
the procedures detailed above, but
where necessary the CLP Executive
Committee, in consultation with the
executive of the LCF, shall take
whatever action is required to meet
the situation and endorsed by the
RD(GS) on behalf of the NEC.

b. Where any situation requires that a

candidate be imposed for a local
government election, the appropriate
LCF may only do so with the approval
of the appropriate RD(GS) of the Party
on behalf of the NEC. In exceptional
circumstances the NEC shall require a
panel of the Regional Board to make a
decision which shall be final and
binding on all parties.

J. Alternative Procedures

a. An LCF may apply to the NEC to pilot

new or innovative procedures. Any
such procedure must retain
procedures for ensuring the Party’s
objectives under positive action are
met.

Appendix 4
NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates Page 87
Appendix 5
carrying out of their role as a councillor,
i.e. attendance at council meetings and
other meetings of which they are a
NEC Advice Note – member, the holding of advice surgeries,
attendance at consultative meetings in the
Interviewing sitting ward, and regular communications with
local residents.

councillors or recent iv. Concerns on any issue/s in a councillors

update report
candidates v. A combination of i) to iv) above

Grounds for interviewing a sitting councillor who has D. Should the Panel only receive a poor report
re-applied for inclusion on the panel of local from the branch secretary, they would need
government candidates or recent candidate who had to take into consideration any known tensions
not been elected. between the branch secretary and the
councillor, and it would be helpful to know
1. Sitting councillors
whether or not the concerns stated were
A. To be reviewed by a written form from the generally held by branch members.
chief whip regarding discipline and
E. Ultimately, the Panel will have to make a
attendance, and by a written report from the
considered decision as to whether a councillor
branch secretary covering the ward they
should be called for interview, and a
represent. An update form must be
consistent approach needs to be taken. The
completed by all sitting councillors wishing to
Panel should err on the side of interviewing
be placed on the new panel of candidates. The
provided poor report/s are received, and it
LCF Officers, or a panel duly authorised by the
needs to be recognised that the Panel are
LCF, may request an interview if the reports
basing their decision to interview on reports
raise concerns about discipline, attendance,
received by them and not of their own
campaigning record or competence. Should
initiative. Advice on whether or not to
they feel the circumstance dictate, the RD(GS)
interview a sitting councillor can be obtained
can instruct the LCF that an interview is
from the Regional Director (or General
undertaken and must give such reasons in
Secretary in Scotland and Wales, and the
writing. Should an interview not be requested,
RD(GS) does have the authority to instruct the
the sitting councillor will be recommended for
LCF to carry out an interview having given
inclusion on the panel without interview.
such reasons.
Should an interview be required, this will be
undertaken by an assessment team. F. It is not unreasonable that a sitting Labour
councillor, who is perceived to be carrying out
B. As required by the NEC procedural guidelines
their duties at a poor level, should be called
an LCF will need to need to set up a panel to
for an interview. Such a decision as taken by
review the reports on sitting councillors and
the Panel, should then be forwarded to the
the update form submitted by sitting
LCF Assessment Team to carry out the
councillors. This can be the LCF Officers or a
interview. The members who made up the
duly authorised panel put in place for this
Panel must not form part of the Assessment
purpose, hereafter referred to as “the Panel”.
Team interviewing sitting councillors.
C. Circumstances under which a sitting councillor
2. Recent candidate who had not been elected
should be called in for an interview The Panel
are required to review the report from the A. To be reviewed by a written report confirming
chief whip and branch secretary, and an there has been no change in circumstances
update report by sitting councillors. It would and updating the applicant’s campaign and
be appropriate to interview sitting councillors Party record. It will require an endorsement of
for any of the following reasons: the application by the branch in which they
reside and the CLP campaign coordinator or
i. Poor disciplinary report from chief whip,
similar officer. The LCF Officers, or a panel
including matters before the relevant
duly authorised by the LCF, may request an
standards committee
interview if the report raises concerns about
ii. Poor attendance report from chief whip their campaigning record or competence.
iii. Poor report from branch secretary with
regard to their role in Party activities or the

Appendix 5
NEC Advice Note – Interviewing sitting councillors or recent candidates Page 88
 B. Should they feel the circumstance dictate, the
RD(GS) can instruct the LCF that an interview
is undertaken and must give such reasons in
writing. Should an interview not be requested,
the applicant will be recommended for
inclusion on the panel without interview.
Should an interview be required, this will be
undertaken by an assessment team. As
required by the NEC procedural guidelines an
LCF will need to set up a panel to review the
reports on a recent candidate who had not
been elected. This can be the LCF Officers or a
duly authorized panel put in place for this
purpose, hereafter referred to as “the Panel”.

C. Circumstances under which a recent

candidate who had not been elected should
be called for an interview

D. The Panel are required to review the reports

from the branch in which they reside and the
CLP campaign coordinator or similar officer. It
would be appropriate to interview sitting
councillors for any of the following reasons:

i. Poor report from the branch in which they

reside, notifying changed circumstances

ii. Poor report from CLP campaign officer or

similar officer, notifying changed
circumstances

iii. A combination of i) & ii) above

E. The Panel would need to take into

consideration any known tensions between
the parties should a poor report be received.
Ultimately, the Panel will have to make a
considered decision as to whether a recent
candidate who had not been elected should
be called for interview, and a consistent
approach needs to be taken. The Panel should
err on the side of interviewing provided poor
report/s are received, and it needs to be
recognised that the Panel are basing their
decision to interview on reports received by
them and not of their own initiative.

F. Advice on whether or not to interview a recent

candidate who had not been elected can be
obtained from the RD(GS), and the RD(GS)
does have the authority to instruct the LCF to
carry out an interview having given such
reasons. It is not unreasonable that a member
who is perceived to have a poor campaigning
record should be called for an interview. Such
a decision as taken by the Panel, should then
be forwarded to the LCF Assessment Team to
carry out the interview. The members who
made up the Panel must not form part of the
Assessment Team interviewing recent
candidates who had not been elected.

Appendix 5
NEC Advice Note – Interviewing sitting councillors or recent candidates Page 89
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines
in disciplinary cases
brought before the
NCC
1. Further information on these guidelines may be
B. Stage 2 – Run-up to hearing
obtained from the secretary of the NCC at The
Labour Party Governance and Legal Unit
2. Any person appearing before a panel of the NCC
and in particular any Party member acting as a
‘presenter’ of, or a ‘respondent’ to, a case before
the panel should make themselves familiar with
these procedural guidelines. Though these
procedural guidelines do not form part of the
Party’s rules, they have the full approval of the
NCC and give detail on the NCC approach to
dealing with individual cases.
3. In fairness to all sides, the NCC expects the
parties involved and its panels to adhere to the
guidelines wherever practicable. Inevitably a
degree of flexibility is required to deal with
unforeseen circumstances or unusual cases. Such
variances, however, should be kept to a
minimum.
4. The NCC or a panel of the NCC have the authority
in what they deem to be appropriate
circumstances, to dispose of a case without a
hearing and to rely solely on the written
representations. Such circumstances may be
where the respondent has failed to reply to the
NCC or indicated they will not be attending the
scheduled hearing, or where the particulars of
the case lead the panel to deem that a hearing
would not be in the best interest of either side.
5. Timetable for dealing with cases
A. Stage 1 – Receipt of case
i. On receipt of a case from the NEC or a
CLP, the NCC secretary shall confirm
certain details about the case from the
designated ‘presenter’.
ii. If there is urgency, the Chair of the NCC
shall appoint a panel (three members of
the NCC) to deal with the case; otherwise
the receipt of the case shall be reported to
the next meeting of the NCC (which may
be held by telephone conference) where
the membership of the panel shall be
agreed.
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC
iii. A chair of the panel shall also be
appointed at this stage who shall be
responsible for ensuring that the
procedural matters in advance of any
hearing are dealt with in accordance with
the guidelines.
iv. In the event the panel considers the case
submitted to it should proceed to a full
hearing a date for a hearing shall be fixed
at this stage. The panel may decide to vary
or alter said date.
i. Letters shall normally be sent to each
individual (respondent) charged, and panel
members, giving about six weeks’ notice of
the hearing. These should enclose the
charge or charges together with
particulars of each and a summary of the
facts supporting each charge, together
with a separate bundle of the documents
to be relied upon, and names of witnesses
to support each charge.
ii. The respondent shall be written to at the
last notified address and required to
advise the secretary of the NCC two weeks
after date of posting of the letter enclosing
the charge whether she/ he intends to
contest the charge or not. Should that
person fail to respond, within two weeks,
thereafter a letter shall be sent advising
that failure to respond without reasonable
cause shall be deemed an admission
entitling the NCC to proceed with the case
and to impose any appropriate sanction.
Where the respondent intends to contest
the charge a written answer to the charge
must be sent to the secretary of the NCC
within four weeks of the date of posting of
the letter enclosing the charge. Said
written answer must identify what, if any,
parts of the charge are admitted, what
parts of the charge are contested and the
basis on which they are contested.
iii. Witnesses
a. The respondent shall apply to the
panel chair in writing regarding any
witnesses she/ he wishes to give oral
evidence at least two weeks prior to
the proposed hearing date.
b. The NCC or any panel thereof will
consider the requests for witnesses to
give oral evidence having considered
that fairness requires such application
to be acceded to whether in whole or
part, having regard to the following:
Page 90
 1. the reason given in support of the
application
2. the issue or issues or otherwise to
which the witness or witnesses are
said to have relevant evidence to
give
3. the materials provided by the
respondent making the application
4. whether the respondent has
availed herself/ himself of the
opportunity to submit to the NCC
or any panel thereof, in support of
her/ his application, a witness
statement containing the evidence
of the witness whom the
respondent is now applying to the
NCC or any panel thereof to hear
orally
5. the content of any such witness
statement
6. any other considerations that
appear to the NCC or panel
thereof to be relevant to
determining whether fairness to
the respondent requires that any
witness the subject of such an
application be heard by the NCC
or panel thereof orally.
c. The criteria stated above for
witnesses to be heard, will equally
relate to the presenter.
d. The NCC is concerned with the
content of the charges presented and
panels are not therefore generally
concerned to hear ‘character’
witnesses on either side. As a general
rule, a panel of the NCC will not take
oral evidence from more than six
witnesses from the presenter/
respondent, unless additional
witnesses are material to specific
elements of the charges and their
evidence is not able to be confirmed
by other witnesses.
e. The NCC has no means of compulsion
to ensure witnesses attend a hearing,
and it is a matter for the presenter/
respondent to arrange for their
witnesses to attend.
f. Acceptance of witnesses for the
presenter / respondent should be
confirmed by the panel chair one
week prior to the hearing, and will be
duly notified to both sides. The
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC
presenter may call additional
witnesses and lodge additional
witness statements in the rebuttal of
the respondent’s reply to charges.
iv. Legal representation
a. An application by the respondent for
legal representation at the hearing
shall be made in writing no later than
four weeks prior to the hearing. The
NCC or panel thereof shall determine
whether such an application is
appropriate, and the respondent shall
be notified of the decision not later
than three weeks prior to the hearing.
b. Where the respondent has been
granted legal representation, the
presenter will be offered the same
facility.
c. Where legal representation is
permitted a pre-hearing meeting of
the panel, along with the legal
representative(s) and presenter, may
be convened to consider procedural
matters relating to the conduct of the
hearing. This must be requested at
least two weeks prior to the hearing,
unless the NCC panel in their
discretion decide otherwise.
v. The presenter/ respondent shall be
entitled to an accompanying friend at the
hearing, who must be a member of the
Party, and may not address the hearing or
be a witness for either side in the course of
the proceedings. The identity of the
accompanying friend shall be notified to
the secretary of the panel not later than
one week prior to the hearing. Where legal
representation is agreed an accompanying
friend will not also be permitted.
vi. The final arrangements shall as far as
reasonably practical be confirmed at least
four days prior to the hearing.
vii. Written evidence
a. A panel of the NCC does not seek out
documentation or evidence prior to
the hearing on its own initiative. It is
not the responsibility of the panel to
insist that specific documentation be
released by the presenter for the use
of the respondent, though any such
request will be forwarded to the
presenter.
b. The presenter’s written case summary
and documents shall be forwarded to
Page 91
 the NCC in a form that is easily
copied. Any bundle of documents in
excess of 30 sheets shall be
numbered consecutively and copied
six times for each case and these
forwarded to the NCC Secretary.
c. Written submissions and documents
from the respondent shall be
forwarded to the NCC in a form that is
easily copied. Any bundle of
documents in excess of 30 sheets
shall be numbered consecutively and
copied six times and these forwarded
to the NCC Secretary.
viii. All communications and correspondence
must go through the secretary of the NCC,
and both sides must not contact each
other or the other side’s witnesses direct.
C. Stage 3 – The full hearing
i. Hearings before panels of the NCC are
intended to be non-adversarial, and the
chair will attempt to maintain an informal
atmosphere. The panel itself will ask
questions of witnesses where it considers
it is necessary to establish or clarify the
facts.
ii. Where a case involves more than one
respondent the panel chair shall establish
before the commencement of any hearing
whether the cases are to be heard
together or separately. The respondents
and presenter will be consulted, though
the final decision shall be at the discretion
of the NCC or panel thereof.
iii. The presenter and respondent, along with
any accompanying friend or legal
representative(s), shall remain in the room
throughout the hearing except where the
panel adjourns to consider procedural or
other matters.
iv. Witnesses shall be brought into the room
one by one during the course of the
presenter’s and respondent’s cases. No
one else shall be permitted to attend the
hearing without the consent of the NCC or
Panel Chair which shall proceed as follows:
a. The hearing procedure is:
1. Chair introduces panel and
outlines procedure, panel deals
with any procedural points or
questions. Where the presenter /
respondent is permitted a legal
representative, the presenter’s /
respondent’s case will be
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC
conducted by the legal
representative alone. However, in
such circumstances the other side
and the panel will be given the
opportunity to directly question
the presenter / respondent.
2. Presenter makes statement of the
case and calls witnesses in turn. As
each witness is introduced s/he
may be asked questions by:
the presenter
the respondent/ representative
members of the panel.
3. At the conclusion of the statement
of case, the respondent/
representative may put questions
to the presenter on the overall
case as presented. The members
of the panel may put any
questions they have to the
presenter on the overall case as
presented. Where a representative
has put the case for the presenter,
the respondent / representative
and the panel will be given the
opportunity to ask questions
directly of the presenter.
4. At this stage the hearing will
adjourn. Having heard the
presenter’s evidence the panel will
have to decide whether there is
sufficient evidence for the full case
to be heard, or if there is no case
for the respondent to answer. If it
decides there is no case to answer
the panel shall so rule and dismiss
the case, otherwise the case will
proceed as follows:
5. Respondent or the representative
presents her/ his case and calls
witnesses in turn. As each witness
is introduced they may be asked
questions by:
the respondent/ representative
the presenter
members of the panel.
6. At the conclusion of the
respondent’s case, the presenter
may put questions to the
respondent/ representative on the
overall case as presented. The
members of the panel may put
any questions they have to the
respondent/ representative on the
overall case as presented. Where a
representative has put the case for
Page 92
 the respondent, the presenter /
representative and the panel will
be given the opportunity to ask
questions directly of the
respondent.
7. The presenter may then make a
closing statement dealing with the
charges and evidence. No new
evidence or documents may then
be introduced by the presenter or
on their behalf.
8. The respondent may then make a
closing statement dealing with the
charges and evidence. No new
evidence or documents may then
be introduced by the respondent
or on their behalf.
9. The presenter may respond on
matters of a procedural nature
raised in the respondent’s closing
statement.
10. If the charge is one of membership
of an organisation proscribed by
the rules of the Party, the
respondent shall be asked by the
panel chair whether s/he is
prepared to give an undertaking
as to future involvement in the
form required by the NEC.
11. The panel adjourns to consider
whether in its opinion the charges
are proved or not proved.
12. The panel shall identify which
charge(s) or part thereof in its
opinion is held proved. This is
determined, if need be, by a
simple majority.
13. If the panel considers that none of
the charges is proved then the
6. Other matters
case shall be dismissed, and shall
not form part of any future
proceedings before the NCC
against that individual.
14. If a panel finds any of the charges
or parts thereof proved then the
hearing resumes to inform the
respondent and to provide an
opportunity for a statement to be
made to the panel with regard to
any mitigating circumstances
which the respondent wishes to
bring to the panel’s attention.
Before addressing the panel the
respondent should be informed by
the chair that one of the
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC
disciplinary measures to be
considered may be that of
expulsion from the Party. At the
conclusion of the address in
mitigation, members of the panel
may ask questions of the
respondent on that issue.
15. The panel then adjourn to
consider any plea in mitigation
and any disciplinary measure it
may decide to impose. Such
decision shall be final.
16. No member of the panel may vote
on the charge against the
respondent on any disciplinary
action to be taken unless s/he has
been present for the whole of the
hearing.
17. Where a panel has found a charge
under Chapter 2 Clause I.4.A, I.4.B
or I.4.C (the conditions of
membership) proved, expulsion is
required by the terms of those
rules.
18. Where a panel has found a charge
of being a member of a proscribed
organisation under Chapter 2 I.3.C
of the conditions of membership
proved, expulsion is required by
the terms of the rule unless the
panel is satisfied that an
unqualified undertaking in the
form required by the NEC has
been given, in which case a
disciplinary measure short of
expulsion may be imposed.
19. The decision will be confirmed in
writing following the closing of the
hearing.
A. Disposal of case other than by hearing:
i. A panel may decide to dismiss a case at
any stage up to A.iii.D.i.d above on the
grounds that no case to answer has been
established. Where a case is contested by
the respondent a hearing as above will
usually proceed unless agreement is
reached on an alternative method of
determining the case (e.g. on the basis of
written submissions only).
B. Decisions of other authorities
i. The NCC has taken the view that it is
important that the Party adopt a
consistent approach towards the findings
Page 93
 of the courts statutory inquiries, the consideration of the evidence to be used
District Auditor, Relevant standards by the presenter in support of the charges.
committees and other such judicial or
ii. Complaints about the conduct of an
quasi-judicial authorities.
investigation at CLP level should be
ii. Presenters on behalf of the NEC and CLPs addressed to the appropriate RD(GS), or
cannot be expected to provide first hand the Party’s General Secretary in the case of
evidence for the findings of such bodies. national investigations, and not to the
The NCC shall treat such findings as NCC.
grounds for disciplinary action unless
evidence is provided of a successful
challenge through the appropriate
channels. The findings of such authorities
shall normally be conclusive proof of the
commission of such a crime, act or default.

C. Party membership of individuals charged

i. An individual charged must have been a

member of the Party at the time of the
alleged breach of rule (and of the
constituency concerned where the case is
brought by a CLP). A CLP is entitled to
pursue a case against a former member
who has subsequently transferred
membership to another CLP.

ii. Where an individual ceases to be a Party

member, although the NCC is entitled to
deal with any charges brought, it however
has determined that it shall not hear cases
in respect of individuals who cease to be
Party members but shall treat the case as
‘suspended’. In such cases the General
Secretary of the Party shall be informed
that an NCC case was outstanding at the
time that membership lapsed or otherwise
ceased. It will therefore be for the NEC to
consider any outstanding matter in
relation to a suspended NCC case should
the individual concerned re-apply for Party
membership. The evidence from a
suspended case may, however, be used in
future for any purpose.

D. Procedural matters at NEC or CLP level

i. The rules under which the NCC operates

make it clear that the NCC and its panels
are concerned only with the charge(s). The
procedures adopted on behalf of the Party
or a CLP in advance of a referral to the
NCC are not matters for the NCC dealing
with a particular case. The NCC is entitled
to (and will) act on the basis that the
charges are properly brought before them
and cannot become embroiled in dealing
with complaints about the administration
of any investigation leading to the charges.
Any such complaint will therefore not be
entertained by the NCC or panel thereof
unless it is material or relevant to the
Appendix 6
Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC Page 94
Appendix 7
Procedural guidelines
for the general
organisation of
Constituency Labour
Parties
Clause I.
General
1. Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) may adopt
methods of organisation most suited to their
local circumstances, subject to the approval of
the NEC.
2. CLPs are also encouraged to agree methods of
organisation which allow cooperation with other
CLPs, affiliated organisations and the wider
community.
3. In any model of organisation, there shall be such
officers to ensure compliance with current legal
obligations, and an Executive Committee elected
to ensure the day to day running of the CLP.
Clause II.
Delegate Organisation
1. The General Meeting of this CLP shall consist of
delegates elected by:
A. affiliated organisations, in accordance with
Clause III of these rules. Each affiliated
organisation may have a maximum of five
delegates to this CLP, except that the RD(GS)
with the approval of the NEC may vary this
limit in agreement with the affiliated
organisation where it has more than 1,000
members resident in the constituency.
B. branches established in accordance with
Chapter 8 of these rules together with the
secretaries who shall be ex-officio members
with voting power. Branch parties with three
or more members under the age of 26 may
elect from among them an additional youth
delegate.
C. women’s forum where established.
D. workplace branches where established.
E. BAME forum where established.
Appendix 7
Procedural guidelines for the general organisation of Constituency Labour Parties
F. Other such forums properly constituted by
this CLP.
Clause III.
Basis of representation
1. The basis of representation of the General
Meeting shall be as follows: {here insert the basis
of representation as approved by the NEC}
provided that:
2. only a member in respect of whom an affiliation
fee or a membership fee for the full year or
period of membership as the case may be has
been paid to this CLP for the previous year or
part thereof to 31 December may be counted in
calculating the number of delegates
3. a Party unit with fewer than ten members shall
be represented by not more than one delegate
whether the secretary or any other member
4. members in arrears shall not be counted when
establishing the number of delegates from Party
branches to the General Committee/All Member
Meeting
5. an organisation during the year in which it is
affiliated or a Party unit during the year in which
it is established shall be entitled to appoint
delegates to attend and participate in meetings of
the General Meeting subsequent to the annual
meeting, the number of delegates being
calculated on the basis of the affiliation fee or
membership fees paid in the said year.
Clause IV.
Conditions for appointment of
delegates to this CLP
1. Every delegate must be an individual member of
the Party in this CLP as described in the
membership rules.
2. Delegates from branches must reside within the
branch appointing them. Delegates from
affiliated organisations must be bona fide
members or paid permanent officials of the
organisation appointing them.
3. No person shall act as a delegate for more than
one organisation/ Party unit.
4. Delegates must either reside or be registered as
electors in the constituency.
Page 95
5. Members of Parliament may be appointed as
delegates to the General Committee/All Member
Meeting in the constituency they represent,
provided they fulfil the criteria above. They may
not be elected to or serve on the Executive
Committee, or hold any office within such CLP.
MPs shall have the right to receive notice of, and
to attend Executive and General Committee/All
Member Meeting meetings of, the CLP they
represent and report on their work.

6. The term of office of a delegate shall commence

with the opening of the annual meeting of this
CLP following their appointment or the date of
their appointment if after the annual meeting.
Unless terminated by their resignation, death or
for any other reason by the affiliated organisation
or Party unit which appointed them, the term of
office of a delegate shall extend to the conclusion
of the next following annual meeting of this CLP
but they shall not be entitled to attend except as
members of the Executive Committee of this CLP
to tender reports to that meeting but not to vote
unless reappointed as delegates for the
appropriate year. All delegates who qualify under
these conditions may be re-appointed. It shall be
the duty of the secretary of this CLP to invite
affiliated organisations and Party units to elect
their delegates prior to and in time to be called to
the annual meeting and to assist this the
Executive Committee may set a reasonable
deadline for the appointment of delegates for
that meeting.

Clause V.
Non Delegate Organisation
1. The General Meeting of this CLP shall consist of
all eligible members and delegates from affiliated
organisations.

Clause VI.
Other Methods of Organisation
1. The general procedures for other methods of
organisation will be shown here as they are
approved by the NEC.

Appendix 7
Procedural guidelines for the general organisation of Constituency Labour Parties Page 96
Appendix 8
NEC statement - A
minimum guarantee
of support to CLPs
Clause I.
Introduction
1. Currently CLPs receive a share of membership
income that is directly related to the number and
type of members they have which mean that the
larger constituencies get significantly more than
the smaller constituencies.
Clause II.
The minimum guarantee will:
1. Roll into the new scheme the costs of the
European Election Levy, the Election Insurance
payment, Contact Creator and the cost of one
delegate pass for annual conference for every
CLP in the country – the CLP ‘package’, a
Minimum Guarantee for CLPs.
2. Write off historic debt owed to the party from
CLPs for the non-payment of Election Insurance
or the Euro levy and debt from past General
Elections.
3. Create a fairer distribution of cash payments to
CLPs that ensures that every CLP receives a cash
payment in addition to the package outlined
above.
4. Recognise that there should be some discrepancy
in cash payments to account for the differing
administration costs associated with being a
larger CLP.
5. Have transitional arrangements in place to
temper the effects of the changes over two rather
than one year with arrangements to effectively
communicate with CLPs about how the changes
will affect them.
6. Create two new NEC administered funds:
A. The NEC Diversity and Democracy Fund and
B. the NEC Local Campaigns and Improvement
Fund.
Clause III.
The detail of the proposal
1. Every CLP will receive a cash payment based on
the number of members in that CLP
Appendix 8
NEC statement - A minimum guarantee of support to CLPs
A. CLPs would continue to receive a cash
payment based on the number of paid up
members in that CLP. The payment will be set
at £1.50 per paid up member. For example if a
CLP has 300 members it will receive £450
annual cash payment which shall be paid in
instalments every two months.
2. A minimum guarantee for every CLP & no
national deductions
A. Alongside a cash payment every CLP will
receive free access to Contact Creator and
one free pass to Annual Conference. In
addition, the party will no longer deduct the
Euro levy and elections insurance (currently
£665 p.a.) from CLP membership
subscriptions, but account centrally for these
items out of membership subscription
payments.
3. Transitional arrangements will be in place for
year 1 (2012)
A. In order to help CLPs with financial planning,
transitional arrangements will be in place for
the first year of operation of the new system.
For those CLPs getting less under the new
scheme their loss would be mitigated in year 1
by paying back half their losses in addition to
their new cash payment. These transitional
costs are to be met from the sums allocated
to the NEC administered funds in the first
year.
4. The Creation of NEC administered Diversity &
Democracy Fund and Local Campaigns and
Improvement Fund
A. The new proposal will leave funds available to
allow for the creation of two NEC
administered funds an NEC Diversity &
Democracy Fund and a Local Campaigns and
Improvement Fund. The amounts placed into
the NEC funds will be calculated by using as a
base the total amount that would have been
paid to CLPs under the current formula
minus:
i. the cost of providing the minimum
guarantee to CLPs;
ii. cost of not having any national deductions;
and
iii. the cash payments made to CLPs.
B. The new NEC funds will be overseen by a
panel of NEC members chosen directly from
the NEC.
C. CLPs would be invited to bid for funding from
the committees which would meet at least
twice a year to consider applications.
Page 97
 D. The Scottish and Welsh Executives and
General Secretaries, and the Regional
Directors and Regional Boards would be
asked for input and views on each bid
received.

Clause IV.
The aim of each fund is as follows:
1. NEC Diversity and Democracy Fund.

A. Aimed at helping the poorest CLPs with the

cost of sending delegates to Annual, Scottish
and Welsh Conferences, and for encouraging
diversity at a local level.

2. NEC Local Campaigns and Improvement Fund

A. This fund would specifically support local

campaigning in the field – so activity is
rewarded and incentivised, and match
funding of projects or organisers would be
considered.

3. Given the anticipated demand the majority of the

money should be placed in the NEC Local
Campaigns and Improvement Fund. However,
this allocation can be amended year on year – for
example in General Election year – by the NEC.
Guidelines will be produced for CLPs on both the
operation of these funds and how to bid from
these funds.

Appendix 8
NEC statement - A minimum guarantee of support to CLPs Page 98
Appendix 9 NEC Codes
of Conduct
All codes of conduct and NEC statements form part
of the agreed relationship between individual Labour
Party members, and set the minimum code of
conduct expected by the Party of all its members.
The NEC may supplement or amend these codes of
conduct at any time. Further codes of conduct exist
relating to internal elections, selections and other
matters. These may be found in the rule book or on
the Labour Party website at www.labour.org.uk
1. Code of Conduct: Sexual
Harassment and Gender
Discrimination.
The Labour Party is the party of equality and has
fought to ensure that society provides equal
opportunities for all and will continue to do so.
Labour strongly believes that no one should feel
disadvantaged, discriminated against or harassed
due to their gender either inside the party or in the
wider society.
The Labour Party understands that sexual
harassment is a form of sex discrimination that takes
place when someone is subjected to unwelcome and
unwanted sexual behaviour or other conduct related
to their gender. This can range from inappropriate
comments to assault, can be verbal, non-verbal or
physical and can take place both in person or online.
The Labour Party will not tolerate any form of
discrimination or harassment. Labour is committed
to ensuring the party is a welcoming environment for
all who share our aims and values to engage in
political activity and debate without feeling
disadvantaged or unsafe. Any behaviour that is
perceived to discriminate against or harass another
due to their gender has no place within the Labour
Party.
2. Code of Conduct: Antisemitism
and other forms of racism
The Labour Party is an anti-racist party, committed to
combating and campaigning against all forms of
racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
0Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct
Labour will not tolerate racism in any form inside or
outside the party.
The Labour Party will ensure that the party is a
welcoming home to members of all communities,
with no place for any prejudice or discrimination
based on race, ethnicity or religion.
The Labour Party welcomes all who share our aims
and values, and encourages political debate and
campaigns around the vital issues, policies and
injustices of our time.
Any behaviour or use of language which targets or
intimidates members of ethnic or religious
communities, or incites racism, including
antisemitism and Islamophobia, or undermines
Labour’s ability to campaign against any form of
racism, is unacceptable conduct within the Labour
Party.
3. Code of Conduct: Social Media
Policy
National Executive Committee Statement
A starting point for all our actions as members of a
party and a movement is to treat all people with
dignity and respect. This applies to all our dealings
with people, offline and online.
Everyone should feel able to take part in discussion
about our party, country and world. We want to
maximise this debate, including critical discussion, as
long as it does not result in the exclusion of others.
Abusing someone online is just as serious as doing
so face to face. We stand against all forms of abuse
and will take action against those who commit it.
Harassment, intimidation, hateful language and
bullying are never acceptable, nor is any form of
discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion,
age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Any member found in breach of the above policies
will be dealt with according to the rules and
procedures of the Labour Party.
We wish to build a diverse movement that reflects
the whole of society, so should always consider how
our actions and words may limit the confidence or
otherwise exclude either those less knowledgeable
Page 99
than ourselves or those already under-represented
in politics.
Those with privilege, whether due to their volume of
experience, party position or status in society should
have regard to how their actions may be felt by those
in different circumstances to themselves.
It is perfectly possible to have vehement
disagreements without descending into personal
abuse, shaming people or exhibiting bullying
behaviour. Forcefully made points and criticisms of
the political views of others are totally legitimate,
personal attacks are not.
Debates amongst party members should be
comradely, acknowledging that whatever our diverse
views, we are one party with shared goals.
Derogatory descriptions of the positions of others
should be avoided.
Anonymous accounts or otherwise hiding one’s
identity for the purpose of abusing others is never
permissible.
The use of sexualised language or imagery, and
unwelcome sexual attention or advances are not
acceptable, nor is the publishing of others’ private
information without their explicit permission.
We should not give voice to those who persistently
engage in abuse and should avoid sharing their
content, even when the item in question is
unproblematic. Those who consistently abuse other
or spread hate should be shunned and not engaged
with in a way that ignores this behaviour.
We all have a responsibility to challenge abuse and
to stand in solidarity with victims of it. We should
attempt to educate and discourage abusers rather
than responding in kind.
We encourage the reporting of abusive behaviour to
the Labour Party, administrators of the relevant
website or social media platform, and where
appropriate, to the police.
This is a collective responsibility and should not be
limited to those who have been subjected to abuse.
Trolling, or otherwise disrupting the ability of others
to debate is not acceptable, nor is consistently
mentioning or making contact with others when this
is unwelcome.
0Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct
Principles for the Labour Party’s use of Social
Media
1. We are direct, confident and proud in what we
have to say - we speak boldly and with clear
intention.
2. We are clear about our position and our policies,
and will give our members and supporters the
language and tools to disseminate these.
3. Collectivism is at the heart of what we do. Our
members and supporters are crucial to all our
achievements and their contributions, from door-
knocking to online activism, are valued and
acknowledged.
4. We seek to break down the wall that creates ‘us’
and ‘them’. When we say ‘we’ that means the whole
movement and those who share our values, not an
exclusive group.
5. We want debate and discussion to flourish on our
channels and will encourage feedback wherever
appropriate.
6. We make legitimate criticisms based on policy and
political actions, never making personal attacks.
7. We use accessible language and avoid jargon that
could exclude or alienate.
8. We put the stories and experiences of the public
first. We prioritise the issues that affect people in
their everyday lives, rather than providing news for
insiders.
9. We are inventive and innovative with our digital
strategy and that means experimentation. We need
people to be open-minded to change and encourage
us to offer the best digital experience possible - even
when that means trial and error.
10. We know that not everyone will agree with us.
Constructive criticism is welcome, but we want to
create a welcoming space for our supporters, so if
comments become abusive we will report them.
4. Code of Conduct: Member’s Pledge
I pledge to act within the spirit and rules of the
Labour Party in my conduct both on and offline, with
members and non-members and I stand against all
forms of abuse.
I understand that if found to be in breach of the
Labour Party policy on online and offline abuse, I will
be subject to the rules and procedures of the Labour
Party.
Page 100
CONTACTS
AND GLOSSARY
Contacts and glossary South West
Emery Road
Brislington, Bristol BS4 5PF
Tel: 0117 972 9440
East Midlands Fax: 0117 972 9450
Harold Wilson House Email: southwest@labour.org.uk
23 Barratt Lane, Attenborough Website: laboursouthwest.org.uk
Nottingham NG9 6AD Twitter: @SWLabourParty
Tel: 0115 943 1777 Regional Director: Phil Gaskin
Fax: 0115 943 1888
Email: eastmidlands@labour.org.uk Welsh Labour
Website: heastmidslabour.org.uk Transport House
Twitter: @EastMidsLabour Cathedral Road
Regional Director: Emma Foody Cardiff CF11 9HA
Tel: 02920 877700
Eastern Fax: 02920 221153
Whitehall Estate, Flex Meadow Email: wales@labour.org.uk
Harlow CM19 5TP Website: welshlabour.wales
Tel: 01279 625860 Twitter: @WelshLabour
Fax: 01279 418322 General Secretary: Louise Magee
Email: eastern@labour.org.uk
Website: easternlabour.org West Midlands
Twitter: @EofELabour Terry Duffy House
Regional Director: Cameron Scott Thomas Street, West Bromwich
West Midlands B70 6NT
London Tel: 0121 569 1900
Southside 105 Victoria Street Fax: 0121 569 1936
London SW1E 6QT Email: westmidlands@labour.org.uk
Tel: 020 7783 1170 Website: westmidlandslabour.org.uk
Fax: 020 7783 1266 Twitter: @WMLabour
Email: London@labour.org.uk Regional Director: George Sinnott
Website: Labourinlondon.org.uk
Twitter: @LondonLabour Yorkshire and The Humber
Acting Regional Director: Neil Fleming 20-22 Cheapside
Wakefield
Labour North West Yorkshire WF1 2TF
Labour Central, Kings Manor Tel: 01924 291221
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6PA Fax: 01924 290098
Tel: 0191 246 5276 Email: yorkshire@labour.org.uk
Fax: 0191 246 5277 Website: yorkshireandhumberlabour.org.uk
Email: north@labour.org.uk Twitter: @yorkshirelabour
Website: labournorth.com Regional Director: Paul Nicholson
Twitter: @LabourNorth
Regional Director: Fiona Stanton

North West Head Office

Suite 97, Spencer House, Dewhurst Road, Birchwood, Warrington, Southside 105 Victoria Street
WA3 7PG Tel: 01925 574913 London SW1E 6QT
Fax: 01925 234655
Email: northwest@labour.org.uk Labour Central, Kings Manor
Website: labournorthwest.org.uk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6PA
Twitter: @LabourNorthWest
Acting Regional Director: Andrew Smith Tel: 0345 092 2299
(Please note, calls to this number are charged at a local rate from
Scottish Labour landlines and mobiles and will be included in any mobile minutes
290 Bath Street you have)
Glasgow G2 4RE
Tel: 0141 572 6900 Website: labour.org.uk
Fax: 0141 572 2566 Twitter: @UKLabour
Email: scotland@labour.org.uk
Website: scottishlabour.org.uk
Twitter: @scottishlabour
General Secretary : Brian Roy

South East
Southside 105 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QT
Tel: 0118 923 9403
Fax: 0118 986 4493
Email: southeast@labour.org.uk
Website: Labour-southeast.org.uk
Twitter: @SELabour
Regional Director: Amy Fode
Glossary

ALC Association of Labour Councillors

Branch Members’ branch in a CLP
CLP Constituency Labour Party
CAC Conference Arrangements Committee (see
also ‘SOC’)
EC Executive Committee
EPLP European Parliamentary Labour Party
GLU Governance and Legal Unit
Group Labour group of councillors on a local
authority
GS General Secretary
LCF Local Campaign Forum
LGU Local Government Unit
MEP Member of the European Parliament
MP Member of Parliament
NCC National Constitutional Committee
NEC National Executive Committee
Panel Panel of prospective candidates for local or
other elections
PEO Political education organiser
PLP Parliamentary Labour Party
PPC Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
RD(GS) Regional Director (or General Secretary in
Scotland and Wales)
SEC Scottish Executive Committee
SLP Scottish Labour Party
SOC Standing Orders Committee (known as CAC
prior to Conference)
TUC Trades Union Congress
TULO Trade union liaison officer
YL Young Labour
YCC Youth campaigns committee
WEC Welsh Executive Committee
WLP Welsh Labour Party
 10400_17 Reproduced from electronic media, promoted by Iain McNicol, General Secretary,
the Labour Party, on behalf of the Labour Party, both at, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.